In a devastating act of terrorism that has shaken Israel to its core, 30-year-old Tse'ala Gaz was gunned down by Palestinians while en route to the delivery room with her husband, Hananel, near the Samarian community of Bruchin on Wednesday night. The young couple, full of anticipation for the birth of their child, was ambushed by gunfire on Route 446 in a chilling reminder of the ever-present danger posed by Palestinian terrorism in Judea and Samaria.

Despite frantic efforts by emergency responders, Tse'ala was pronounced dead early Thursday morning. Her unborn son was delivered via emergency procedure at Beilinson Hospital’s Schneider Children's Medical Center and remains in serious but stable condition, fighting for his life in the neonatal intensive care unit.

The grieving nation has been united in shock and outrage over the deliberate targeting of a pregnant woman. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the atrocity, declaring: “This vile act reflects the stark contrast between us—those who cherish and create life—and the monsters who seek only to destroy. Our security forces will pursue these terrorists relentlessly and bring them to justice.”

Heartbreaking 💔 Tseala Gaz (30), the pregnant Jewish woman shot by Palestinian terrorists tonight and critically injured, has died from her wounds.

Her baby was delivered by cesarean section and is in critical condition.

May her memory be a blessing. pic.twitter.com/FojegJyUYM

— Vivid.🇮🇱 (@VividProwess) May 15, 2025

President Isaac Herzog expressed his deep sorrow and horror at the murder: “At the very moment life was about to begin, life was brutally cut short. It is a spine-chilling act of terror that tears at our national soul. Our prayers are with the baby and with Hananel, who now faces life without the woman he loved.”

According to Magen David Adom, the attack occurred around 10 p.m. as the couple drove between Bruchin and Peduel, about 10 miles from Petah Tikva. Emergency teams found Tse'ala in critical condition and Hananel severely injured with multiple gunshot wounds. He remains hospitalized, recovering from the brutal ambush that left his wife dead and his newborn son in intensive care.

PALESTINIAN SHOOTING ATTACK 🔴

Palestinian terror attack in Samaria: A husband and his pregnant wife were on their way to the delivery room when Arab terrorists opened fire. Despite being wounded, the husband cared for his wife until rescue teams arrived. A senior MDA officer… pic.twitter.com/AKDHDvKIPD

— Open Source Intel (@Osint613) May 14, 2025

Meanwhile, Hamas—in a grotesque glorification of murder—praised the attack, calling the murder of a young woman in labor as "heroic." This blatant endorsement of the deliberate assassination of a pregnant woman has sparked further fury across Israeli society. The Yesha Council did not mince words in its response, stating: “This heinous act of terror must serve as a wake-up call. The cities and villages from which these murderers emerge must be neutralized. We urge the government and IDF to shift the security paradigm—from reactive containment to proactive deterrence.”

The council criticized what it sees as a flawed approach to counter-terror operations, emphasizing that endless searches for individual terrorists are insufficient to guarantee the safety of Israeli citizens. “If Israel doesn’t alter its security doctrine, our citizens will remain in constant peril.”  Many in Israel, especially those who live in Judea and Samaria want to see Israel firmly take control over the territory instead of playing an appeasement game with what many consider a toothless and corrupt Palestinian Authority government. In recent years it has been revealed that many law enforcement members of the P.A. are also aligned with the various miitant groups that litter Palestinian society. From the Marxist Popular Front (PFLP) to the Islamist Hamas or Islamic Jihad, terror groups are embedded in communities across Palestinian cities and often are in control of those communities. 

Shooting terror attack with at least two (critically and seriously) injured in Judea and Samaria, on the 446 road.

Medics are trying to save the fetus of the injured 30-year-old woman who is in serious condition 🙏 pic.twitter.com/jGdWFCVWCq

— RealPalestina(א"י)🇮🇱 (@LollllllaJR) May 14, 2025

Security forces are now engaged in an intense manhunt for the terrorist or terrorists responsible, scouring the area with aerial surveillance, special forces, and intelligence operatives. The operation is expected to expand into surrounding Palestinian villages suspected of harboring the attacker or those who aided him.

This tragedy underscores the ongoing security crisis in Samaria, where terrorists continue to exploit routine civilian movement as opportunities for slaughter. The symbolism of this particular attack—targeting a woman literally giving life—has horrified even seasoned observers of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

As the nation mourns the death of Tse'ala Gaz, a woman remembered by her community as kind, joyful, and deeply devoted to her family, Israel braces for the next phase of its counter-terror response, determined that this young mother’s death not go unanswered.