Three gunmen opened fire Thursday morning on the road near a checkpoint in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, killing one Israeli and wounding at least five, police said, as violence persists in the territory. Two of the attackers were killed and a third was found later and detained. Benny Gantz, a member of Israel’s War Cabinet, said late Wednesday that new attempts are underway to reach a cease-fire deal between Israel and Hamas that could pause the war in Gaza. But unless Hamas agrees to release the remaining Israeli hostages in Gaza, he said, Israel will launch a ground offensive into the crowded southern city of Rafah during the upcoming Muslim holy month of Ramadan. Israel’s war in Gaza has driven some 80% of the population of 2.3 million from their homes. Most heeded Israeli orders to flee south and around 1.5 million are packed into Rafah near the border with Egypt. The war began when Hamas-led militants stormed into southern Israel on Oct. 7, killing some 1,200 people and taking around 250 hostage. About a fourth of some 130 captives still being held are believed to be dead. Israel has laid waste to much of the Palestinian territory in response. Gaza’s Health Ministry estimates more than 29,000 Palestinians have been killed.
Here’s the latest:
Quick Read
- Three gunmen attacked near a West Bank checkpoint, resulting in one Israeli dead and at least five wounded. Two attackers were killed, and a third was apprehended.
- Benny Gantz, a member of Israel’s War Cabinet, indicated that efforts are being made to negotiate a cease-fire with Hamas to halt the conflict in Gaza. However, he emphasized that if Hamas does not release the remaining Israeli hostages, Israel might commence a ground offensive in Rafah during Ramadan.
- The ongoing war in Gaza has displaced approximately 80% of its 2.3 million residents, with many seeking refuge in Rafah.
- Since the conflict’s onset on October 7, when Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israel, it’s estimated that over 29,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza, with Israel targeting the region in retaliation.
- The West Bank attack took place during a morning traffic jam, with the gunmen targeting several cars. Security forces, including an off-duty policeman, responded, neutralizing two assailants and detaining the third.
- The Israeli national security minister, Itamar Ben Gvir, advocated for increased security measures in the West Bank and encouraged arming more Israeli civilians.
- Hamas praised the West Bank attack as a reaction to Israel’s actions in Gaza and the West Bank, urging further resistance until a sovereign Palestinian state is established with Jerusalem as its capital.
- The incident heightens tensions ahead of Ramadan, historically a period marked by increased violence.
- Since the October 7 attack, the Israeli army has killed nearly 400 Palestinians in the West Bank and arrested over 3,200, with many suspected of affiliating with Hamas.
The Associated Press has the story:
Attackers open fire in West Bank, killing 1 Israeli and wounding others
Newslooks- TEL AVIV, Israel — (AP)
Israeli police said one Israeli was killed and five wounded after three gunmen opened fire on cars near a checkpoint in the Israeli-occupied West Bank on Thursday.
Police said the gunmen took advantage of the traffic jam during the morning rush-hour on the main highway east of Jerusalem, opening fire with automatic weapons at several cars.
Security forces on the scene, including a policeman on his way to work, killed two of the gunmen. The third fled but was soon apprehended by police and detained after being wounded. The police said the gunmen were from the Bethlehem area.
The killed Israeli was a 20-year-old man. Five others were wounded, including a pregnant woman in her 20s who was in critical but stable condition, according to health officials.
There have been a number of shooting attacks against Israeli civilians since the war began in Gaza, including a shooting and car ramming attack in a suburb north of Tel Aviv last month that killed one person and injured 12.
Israel’s far-right national security minister, Itamar Ben Gvir, visited the scene and called for more checkpoints and restrictions on Palestinians in the West Bank, as well as more weapons for Israeli civilians. “We are distributing more and more guns, there were some people who criticized me on this policy half a year ago, I think that today everyone understands that guns save lives,” he said.
Hamas in a statement praised the attack as a “natural response” to Israel’s ongoing war in Gaza and raids in the West Bank, and called for more attacks until they can achieve a “fully sovereign” Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital.
The militant group did not claim responsibility for the attack.
Tensions are also high ahead of Ramadan, which is expected to start March 10 and which has in the past seen surging violence.
Since Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack on southern Israel, nearly 400 Palestinians have been killed by the Israeli army in the West Bank, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry. The army says it has arrested more than 3,200 Palestinians in nightime raids in the West Bank, including 1,350 believed to be part of Hamas.
Currently:
— Iran accuses Israel of a sabotage attack after explosions strike a natural gas pipeline.
— United Airlines says it will restart flights to Israel in March.
— Spain’s prime minister discusses the Israel-Hamas war with Morocco’s king.
— An attempt by U.K. lawmakers to vote on a cease-fire in Gaza descends into chaos.
— Find more of AP’s coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war.
