Ramallah, West Bank – Two Israeli settlers and one Palestinian were killed in a shooting incident near the “Eli” colony in the central occupied West Bank on Thursday afternoon.
Israeli sources reported that the attack took place at a gas station near the entrance to the illegal “Eli” settlement, resulting in the deaths of Yitzhak Zeiger, 57, from the Shavei Shomron colony, and Uria Hartum, 16, from Dolev colony. Uria was hitching a ride with Zeiger when the incident occurred.
The owner of the restaurant at the scene, Aviad Gazber, who was an Israeli soldier in the reserves, managed to “neutralize” the shooter. The assailant was identified as Mohammad Yousef Thiab Manasra, 31, a former political prisoner imprisoned by Israel from 2018 to 2019 and an interrogator with the Palestinian Police.
Following the shooting, Israeli forces intensified security measures at various military roadblocks surrounding Nablus, including Beit Furik, Awarta, Huwwara, Za’tara, Al-Murabba, and Deir Sharaf. Soldiers conducted thorough vehicle and ID card inspections, causing traffic disruptions.
In the aftermath of the incident, armed Israeli settlers descended on the area and attacked vehicles on the Ramallah-Nablus Road. They targeted vehicles on Huwwara Street, at the Awarta Junction, near the Za’tara checkpoint, and at the southern entrance to the village of Madama.
Subsequently, an Israeli settler injured Mahdi Samir Mahmoud Al-Azza near the entrance to the village of Al-Laban Al-Sharqiya by running him over and assaulting him. The victim was taken to a hospital for treatment, and the attackers also damaged vehicles belonging to the Al-Azza family.
Additionally, illegal colonizers threw rocks at Khalil Azzam Aassi, causing a head injury, while he was driving through the Za’tara military roadblock. The aggression and violence following the initial shooting incident have escalated tensions in the region.