A woman in her 40s was shot and killed on Monday while riding in a car on Highway 60 in the West Bank near Beit Hagai Junction, according to the IDF.
She was accompanied by a man, also in his 40s, who was driving the car and also suffered from gunshot wounds. There was also a 6-year-old child with them, according to Magen David Adom. The child was unharmed. Israeli media reported that the woman and child were mother and daughter and they were taking a ride from the driver, who is not related to them.
The three were inside a private vehicle when the terrorists shot at them while passing from another car on the highway. The shooters escaped the scene, and Israeli security forces immediately began a manhunt. According to initial reports, the terrorists were traveling west toward Hebron.
The terrorists fired off at least 22 shots toward the Israeli car, according to media reports citing the 22 bullet holes seen in the car after the attack.
Magen David Adom paramedics responded to the attack and treated the wounded on site and defined the man’s condition as serious.
הפיגוע בדרום הר חברון: ילדה בת 6 הייתה במכונית שלעברה ירו המחבלים, היא לא נפגעה | כל הפרטים >>> https://t.co/3gx2igl7nt@ItayBlumental pic.twitter.com/M5UlRj0Qmt
— כאן חדשות (@kann_news) August 21, 2023
The scene of a terrorist shooting on Highway 60 near Hebron on August 21, 2023. (credit: MAGEN DAVID ADOM)“The man and the woman were near their car, unconscious and suffering from gunshot wounds,” said MDA paramedic Moshe Barsheshet, who was on site. “We administered medical treatment along with the IDF medics and stopped the bleeding. The man who was seriously injured was taken in a military vehicle to Soroka Medical Center.”
A short time later, Soroka Medical Center stated: “A 39-year-old was [brought in] suffering from gunshot wounds. He is receiving emergency medical treatment to stabilize his condition.” A later update from Soroka stated that the man was still in serious condition but fully conscious.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was reportedly updated on the security situation.
Public and municipal responses to the attack
The spokesperson for the nearby settlement of Kiryat Arba stated that the settlement is currently closed to exits and there is a blockade between them and the Beit Hagai Junction.
Shlomo Ne’eman, Mayor of the Gush Etzion Regional Council and head of the Yesha Council said in a statement on Monday: “Yet another shocking attack – we send a warm embrace to the family of the victim at this difficult time and pray for the recovery of the injured driver. The terrorists act as a result of the hate education and funding from the PA, with the goal of massacring us. The government simply can’t continue down the path of the terrible Oslo agreements.”
Ne’eman added: “We demand that the government of Israel and the IDF forces change course and act with all means at their disposal to deal a severe blow to the terrorist infrastructure and the terrorist PA. The supporters, the instigators, and the sponsors of terrorism can no longer continue with their daily routine. There is a war here and in a war one must behave accordingly.”
In an official press statement, Hamas responded to the attack by saying that such attacks are “part of dealing with a religious war in holy places and the war against the Zionist projects in the settlements.”
This is a developing story.
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