Preliminary investigation indicates that attack was likely planned in advance and perpetrated by more than one terrorist.
– By Erin Viner
Yehuda Dimantman, 22, was killed and 2 others injured last night when the car they were in was ambushed after leaving the West Bank Jewish outpost of Homesh en route to the Shavei Shomron community.
The murder victim, a student at a Jewish seminary (yeshiva) and father of a toddler, succumbed to gunshot wounds while being rushed to hospital.
According to 22-year-old passenger Avia Antman, Diamantan was hit in the neck.
The defense establishment immediately launched a manhunt for the assailants, who fled the scene.
“Together with all the people of Israel, I send heartfelt condolences to the family of the person killed in the horrific attack that took place tonight in Samaria, and a speedy recovery to the wounded,” said Prime Minister Naftali Bennett immediately after being updated on the incident.
“The security forces will get their hands on the terrorists very soon, and we’ll ensure that justice is served,” vowed the Israeli leader.
Echoing those statements, Defense Minister Benny Gantz also expressed condolences to the terror victim’s family and wished a full recovery of those injured, while pledging that the perpetrator(s) will be captured.
“We will increase our vigilance and readiness to thwart terror in Judea and Samaria, and will continue to take any measures necessary in facing terror groups in the area,” he stressed.
The IDF Spokesperson Unit revealed the arrests of several Palestinians suspected of links to the perpetrators.
“Security forces, the IDF, the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency), the Police and other forces are working on intelligence in the pursuit of the killers. We will see them caught,” assured IDF Central Command Head Maj. Gen. Yehuda Fox, emphasizing that, “We are responsible for the [people’s] protection and we will do everything we can to provide that protection to the residents in the area and catch the killers and terrorists who carried out this attack.”.
The Islamist Hamas rulers of Gaza hailed the deadly attack, although the terror group stopped short of claiming responsibility.
“Hamas blesses this heroic operation in Nablus against the ‘occupation forces and the murderous settlers,’” Hamas Spokesperson Hazim Qasim declared, adding, “This operation proves yet again that our heroic people will continue their struggle until they expel ‘the occupier.’”
The latest incident follows a surge of terror attacks on Israeli civilians.
A young mother was stabbed in the back by a Palestinian teenage girl in Jerusalem last week while carrying a baby in a morning walk to school with her 4 other children. The victim was safely evacuated to an area hospital for treatment, and the suspected terrorist was arrested nearby.
There has was also an attempted vehicular homicide perpetrated in the West Bank on 6 December, 3 additional stabbings in the capital, and the shooting murder of a young Israeli immigrant from South Africa on 21 November.