One killed, four wounded, after Palestinian steals gun, shoots hikers - The Jerusalem Post

A group of Israeli civilians had illegally crossed into Palestinian Authority-controlled territory while hiking in the area, leading to clashes with local Palestinians.

Two Israelis, including an IDF officer, were killed and several others were lightly-to-seriously wounded in a terror shooting near Gilad Farm, a settlement located southwest of Nablus in the northern West Bank, on Friday morning.

According to the IDF, a group of Israeli civilians had illegally crossed into Palestinian Authority-controlled territory while hiking in the area. The military said Palestinians confronted the group and began throwing rocks before one of them opened fire.

The IDF said troops and other security forces rushed to the scene, where they exchanged fire with the suspected attackers.

The Palestinian Authority's Health Ministry said at least four Palestinians were killed and four others were wounded, including three in critical condition. A different account was provided by Essam Saifi, a local Fatah leader from the area, who told Reuters that about 25 to 30 Israeli settlers initially entered the area, attacked residents, and attempted to break into two homes. According to Saifi, local residents came out to confront them, at which point the settlers opened fire.

Saifi said the Israelis returned about half an hour later and attacked the western part of the town, wounding a minor. The ensuing chaos was followed by the arrival of Israeli forces, who, together with the settlers, opened fire, he told Reuters.

The murdered Israeli was identified as 32-year-old Benayahu Melet, a member of Gilad Farm's emergency response squad who was killed after attempting to aid hikers under assault by Palestinians. He leaves behind a wife and two daughters, aged 13 and 12, respectively.

The other was identified as 27-year-old Major Yuval Ezra, an Artillery Battery Commander.

The IDF conducted a manhunt for the terrorist, locating and killing him after the shooting incident.

The head of Gilad Farm's emergency response squad responded to the incident, along with other squad members. At approximately 8:20 a.m., reports were received of a gunshot wound after Palestinians stole the weapon of the emergency response squad chief and fired at the Israelis, Walla learned.

The IDF seized and returned the stolen weapon after killing the terrorist.

"The hike left Mount Bracha in the early morning when a group of approximately 60 hikers, including two guards armed with rifles, and several others with pistols, set off," a member of the group told Walla.

"On the way, we stopped at a spring close to Sela Ridge. At around 7:05 a.m., the first incident occured when several Arabs from the village began trying to get us to leave by throwing rocks and attacking us with clubs," they said.

"One of the hikers was injured in the face. We retreated and began walking towards Gilad Farm," the group member added.

"At 8:05 a.m., the second clash occurred. Dozens of Arabs from the village began throwing stones at us. Arabs began surrounding the group from three sides, and at this point, two of the armed Israelis opened fire in self-defense," they said.

"The Arabs continued to advance and surround the group, which was trying to descend the mountain. At this point, the number of Arabs in the area had already reached hundreds," they continued.

"A few minutes later, a military jeep arrived at the scene. Two minutes later, two members of Gilad Farm's emergency response squad arrived. They tried to repel the Arab crowd by firing a few shots in the air, but to no avail," the witness said.

"Unarmed civilians also tried to help defend the group, but soldiers pushed them back. During the rush, one of the Arabs, a sheikh from the village, grabbed the gun of one of the emergency response squad members and fired," they stated.

Magen David Adom paramedics responded to the scene to treat the wounded. "We treated a 25-year-old man who suffered a gunshot wound to his upper body, but remained conscious," a paramedic said.

"We provided him with medical treatment and evacuated him to be transported to a military helicopter in order to be evacuated to the hospital. He was in a stable condition," the paramedic noted.

"Later, I assisted an IDF medical team, and together we provided medical treatment to a critically wounded, unconscious man, who suffered gunshot wounds to his body. After prolonged resuscitation efforts, we were forced to declare him dead," the paramedic said.