Four Israelis were killed and four others were wounded in a shooting attack by two terrorists at a gas station outside the West Bank settlement of Eli on Tuesday afternoon.
One of the victims was identified as Elisha Antman, an 18-year-old resident of the city of Eli. Another was identified as Harel Masoud, a 21-year-old resident of Yad Binyamin. A third was later identified as Ofer Feirman, another 63-year-old Eli resident. The fourth was identified as Nachman Shmuel Mordoff, 17, a resident of Achiya.
Two terrorists entered a restaurant next to the gas station and shot several people there before going to the gas station and shooting another person. At that moment, an armed civilian killed one of them and the other ran away.
Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency), IDF and border police forces shot and killed the second terrorist after locating and attempting to arrest him a short time later. They followed him as he tried to escape and eventually found his abandoned car, according to a joint statement. When they located him, they tried to arrest him, but he resisted arrest and was killed, according to the statement.
Initial intelligence reports suggested a strong likelihood that the terrorists were associated with Hamas, said IDF spokesman Brig.-Gen. said Daniel Hagari. A short time later, a Hamas official said the gunmen belonged to Hamas’ military wing, the Izzadin al-Qassam Brigades. The attack was in response to Monday’s IDF operation in Jenin, he told Al Jazeera.
(credit: MDA Operational Documentation)
Hagari also said that the IDF and Israel Police have increased their presence in the area to provide security for Israeli civilians and to ensure that civilians do not take independent retaliatory actions.
The terrorist who died at the gas station was identified as Muhannad Shahada from the village of Orif near Nablus in the West Bank, according to Palestinian reports cited by army radio.
Four dead and four injured in the attack
One of the four additional wounded, a 20-year-old man in serious condition, was taken to Shaare Zedek Medical Center in Jerusalem. He was in serious but stable condition with a gunshot wound to his upper body and needed surgery soon, according to the hospital.
Two additional injuries were in moderate condition and one in light condition, according to MDA. They were taken to Rabin Medical Center-Beilinson Hospital in Petah Tikva.
“We received a report on MDA’s 101 hotline about a shooting at a gas station next to Eli,” MDA Senior Medical Officer Motti Dahan said in a press release. “We arrived in large forces at the gas station and saw one [horrible] scene [Eight victims] had sustained gunshot wounds, some of them at the gas station and others at the nearby restaurant… Three of the injured were evacuated to hospitals in MDA intensive care vehicles and unfortunately we had to confirm the death of four victims”.
United Hatzalah paramedics Aviah Chaim and Yoni Rosenfeld also arrived at the scene. “Unfortunately, four people were pronounced dead after resuscitation attempts were unsuccessful,” one of them said in a press release. “In addition, we gave first treatment to four other people who suffered gunshot wounds. Due to the nature of the incident, United Hatzalah’s Psychotrauma and Crisis Response Unit also treated several people for emotional shock.”
After the attack, the president of the settlement of Eli, Ariel Elmaliach, asked residents to stay in their homes, because of the possibility that the second terrorist had entered the city. The clearance was given about an hour and a half later.
IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi in an assessment of the situation after a terrorist attack near Eli in the West Bank on June 20, 2023. (credit: IDF PORTEVERS UNIT )
Security chiefs meet with prime minister
“The time has come to launch a military operation in Judea and Samaria. Return to targeted killings, demolish buildings, set up checkpoints, expel terrorists and convict terrorists.”
Itamar Ben-Gvir
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned that “all options are open” after the terror attack. “We will continue to fight terror with all our strength and we will defeat it,” he said.
Netanyahu said Israel “demonstrated in recent months that we make all murderers pay, without exception. Whoever harms us is in the grave or in prison. That will happen here too.”
The prime minister held an assessment of the situation at the IDF’s central command in Jerusalem on Tuesday evening, after members of his coalition called for a forceful military response to the terror attack.
Several senior military and security chiefs were present at the meeting, including Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar, and the head of the IDF Herzi Halevi.
Military and security chiefs meeting after West Bank terror attack, including Defense Minister Gallant, Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar, IDF chief Herzi Halevi and others on June 20, 2023. (credit: CHAIM TZACH/GPO)
At the end of the meeting, it was decided to reinforce IDF troops in the West Bank with additional brigades starting Tuesday night, the IDF confirmed.
Police forces on roads and crossroads in the West Bank will also be strengthened, according to the post-meeting announcement by the Israel Police spokesman.
Politicians, ambassadors offer condolences
“Settlers have become ducks in a shooting range,” National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir said at the scene of the attack in Eli. “I’m calling on the Prime Minister, I’m calling on Minister Gallant, the time has come to launch a military operation in Judea and Samaria. Go back to targeted killings, demolish buildings, set up checkpoints, drive out terrorists and serve the punishment of death for terrorists. in the second and third reading of the Knesset”.
Opposition leader Yair Lapid (Yesh Atid) said: “Difficult news from Eli. Four people killed, and hearts break for the families and friends who lost their loved ones in a terrorist attack murderer I send my condolences and share the pain of the families and pray with all of Israel for healing and comfort… I trust [the Israeli security forces will] catch the killers and their senders.”
National Unity president Benny Gantz said: “I would like to send my deepest condolences to the families of those killed in the horrific attack in Eli and wish those injured a speedy and full recovery. Decisive action is needed at this time and responsible, led by the security forces. We will support all the right decisions of the government in the face of murderous terrorism.”
Foreign Minister Eli Cohen (Likud) said: “It’s been a difficult day. My heart breaks for the four people killed in the horrific terrorist attack near Eli. I send my condolences to their families, I pray for the healing of the wounded and support the security forces. In the face of terrorism rearing its head, we must react with determination and force. The Palestinian Authority, which pays terrorists and their families to killing Jews, encourages terrorism. I call on the international community to strongly condemn this criminal policy.”
Israeli residents in northern Samaria called for demonstrations at the Eli and Rehelim intersections on Tuesday evening to protest what they said was an inadequate response by the government and security forces.
This is a developing story.
Lahav Harkov and Khaled Abu Toameh contributed to this story.
