The IDF says it has deployed five additional companies to the West Bank and launched a large-scale manhunt
By Sammy Tisser,
The IDF says it has deployed five additional companies to the West Bank and launched a large-scale manhunt following the deadly shooting near the Palestinian village of Tell, close to Havat Gilad. The military has also imposed closures on Tell and Nablus as troops continue searching for those involved.
According to the IDF, the incident began after a group of Israeli civilians hiking near Tell came under attack by Palestinians. The military says a Palestinian seized the rifle of a civilian security coordinator who had responded to the scene and used it to open fire, killing 32-year-old Benayahu Mellet, a member of Havat Gilad's civilian security team, and wounding several others. The IDF says troops later killed the attacker and recovered the stolen weapon.
Magen David Adom says one Israeli was killed and three others were wounded, including one in critical condition and another seriously injured. Palestinian health officials say four Palestinians were killed and four others were wounded during the confrontation.
Palestinian officials dispute the Israeli account, saying Israelis entered the village of Tell and attacked residents before the violence broke out. Palestinian media also reports that dozens of Israelis later entered the nearby villages of Far'ata and Jit, where property was allegedly set on fire and one Palestinian was reportedly shot. The IDF has not commented on those claims.
Following the attack, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a security assessment with senior defense officials, while IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir ordered additional troop reinforcements across the West Bank. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich called for a strong military response and urged the establishment of a new Israeli community near the site of the shooting.
Topics: IDF, Israeli Politics
Reported by Sammy Tisser for Bernie News Network. See our editorial standards and corrections policy.