Key facts
- Three people, identified as Rachel Cohen, Aliza Reiss, and Elad Winkelstein, were killed in a shooting attack near the West Bank settlement of Havat Gilad.
- Six others were injured, including a bus driver in severe condition and two elderly women with moderate injuries.
- The attack occurred when three assailants opened fire on passing vehicles and buses along Highway 55.
- The assailants fled the scene toward Nablus.
- Israeli security forces have launched a manhunt for the suspects, with at least two believed to be linked to Jenin and Qabatiya.
- Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened an emergency meeting and vowed swift action against the perpetrators.
Three individuals were killed and six others injured in a shooting incident near the Havat Gilad settlement in the West Bank on Friday morning. The assailants, traveling in a car, opened fire on passing vehicles and buses along Highway 55 before fleeing toward Nablus.
Victims identified include Rachel Cohen and Aliza Reiss, who were shot at close range, and police officer Elad Winkelstein, who returned fire before being killed. Among the injured were a bus driver in severe condition and five others, including two elderly women.
Israeli security forces have launched a manhunt for the suspects, with intelligence suggesting at least two are known to security forces and linked to areas in the northern West Bank. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened an emergency meeting with defense officials, approving measures to apprehend the attackers and enhance regional security. IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi visited the scene, vowing to capture those responsible.
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich reacted to the attack by calling for a "profound change" within Israel's Arab community, citing concerns about an "extremist breeding ground for terrorism."