Three Israelis killed in Palestinian shooting attack in West Bank

The Israeli military and paramedics say three Israelis have been killed and eight wounded after Palestinians opened fire on a bus and other vehicles in the north of the occupied West Bank.

The Magen David Adom ambulance service identified the deceased as two women in their 60s and a man in his 40s. The bus driver was seriously injured.

The Israeli military said “terrorists” fired on vehicles near the village of al-Fanduk, located on Highway 55, and then fled the scene.

Israeli media quoted a military official as saying that the attackers were two Palestinians and that security forces were pursuing them, setting up blockades and surrounding several towns in the region.

Magen David Adom paramedic Avichai Ben Tzurya described it as “a very serious attack spread across the street”, involving several vehicles.

He said in a statement, “We conducted a rapid search and identified two women and a man without pulse in private cars, suffering from serious gunshot wounds. We have no further information other than to pronounce them dead at the scene.” Wasn’t an option.”

“Inside the bus, we treated victims of gunshot and broken glass, including the bus driver – who was conscious and suffering from gunshot wounds – as well as additional victims in mild to moderate condition “

The injured were taken to two hospitals in central Israel.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to bring to justice the “despicable murderers” as well as anyone who assisted them.

“No one will survive,” he wrote on X.

There were no immediate claims from Palestinian armed groups, although Hamas praised the attack as a “heroic response against (Israel’s) continuing crimes”, including the war in Gaza.

Hundreds of Palestinians and dozens of Israelis have been killed in an increase in violence in the West Bank since the beginning of the war, which was triggered by Hamas’ deadly attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023.

On Sunday, the Palestinian Health Ministry said that two Palestinians – a 17-year-old boy and a 40-year-old man – were killed by Israeli forces in the West Bank.

It said the teen was shot dead during an Israeli attack on the Askar refugee camp near the city of Nablus, 10 km (6 miles) east of al-Fanduk.

According to Reuters news agency, the Israeli military said its troops fired on people who threw explosives at them in the Nablus area. It said “a hit has been identified” and the incident was under review.

The man was killed in the town of Mithloun, 21 km northeast of al-Fanduk, where the Israeli military said border police officers killed an armed suspect during a sweeping operation in which 19 other people were arrested.