Sunday morning, an Israeli citizen, Amar Mansour, aged 33 from East Jerusalem, fell victim to a fatal shooting in Samaria, north of Ramallah. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF), identifying this as a deliberate act of terror, have initiated a large-scale manhunt and established roadblocks in the surrounding regions, particularly along Route 465 near the Ateret settlement, where the attack occurred.
This incident took place amidst escalating tensions in Judea and Samaria. Mansour, discovered in his silver Volkswagen with multiple bullet holes in the windshield, was pronounced dead at the scene by the Magen David Adom rescue service. The location of the attack, between Ateret and the junction with Route 60, is historically significant, marked by an old British police station.
#Breaking: Terror attack: Shooting attack in Binyamin, Israel. Mistaken for Jewish, an Arab victim lost their life. Manhunt underway for the two terrorists. pic.twitter.com/UgRgXELvuB
ā Open Source Intel (@Osint613) January 7, 2024
This attack is the first deadly assault on a civilian in Judea and Samaria, also referred to as the West Bank, since November. While there have been several attempted attacks since, including a stabbing incident at the Mishor Adumim industrial zone's entrance on December 31, where two guards were injured, this incident marks a severe escalation.
Recent trends have shown a shift in the concentration of violence. While the northern quadrant of Samaria, encompassing Jenin, Nablus, and Tulkarem, has witnessed the bulk of unrest in recent years, recent incidents have been spreading to other areas. IDF operations in these regions have been focused on dismantling terror networks, which have established strongholds there.
One person has been murdered in Palestinian shooting terror attack in Binyamin, this morning. The victim was a man in his 30's.https://t.co/LkhYGjssm2 pic.twitter.com/X9xpPnSQEw
ā Arsen Ostrovsky šļø (@Ostrov_A) January 7, 2024
In a related development, an Israeli Border Police officer, Shay Germay, 19, from Karmiel, succumbed to injuries from an explosive device during a counter-terror operation in Jenin's refugee camp. Germay, along with three other injured officers, was rushed to Haifa's Rambam Hospital. The Israeli Police expressed their commitment to supporting Germay's family, noting the loss of 60 officers since the onset of the conflict with Hamas on October 7.
During the Jenin operation, Israeli forces neutralized six Palestinian terrorists using an aerial drone. These terrorists were actively engaged in throwing explosives at the IDF personnel. Since the beginning of heightened operations on October 7, approximately 2,600 suspects have been detained in Judea and Samaria, with about 1,300 linked to Hamas.
Four Israeli Border Guard troops were wounded by an IED during a counter-terrorism operation in the northern Samaria town of Jenin overnight.
ā CJC (@cj_chep) January 7, 2024
One of them has now been confirmed killed: Shai Garmai.
May her memory be a blessing. pic.twitter.com/elsu1281Uz
These events underline the ongoing and complex security challenges Israel faces in the region. The IDF and Israeli Police continue to work tirelessly to ensure the safety of its citizens and thwart terror activities in Judea and Samaria.
