Eyewitnesses to today's attack near Havat Gilad in Samaria have provided detailed accounts of how the incident unfolded, including critical details about military response during the assault that resulted in the death of Binyahu Melet.
A group of approximately 60 Jewish hikers, accompanied by armed security personnel, departed early Friday morning for a hike near Ridge Road in the Samaria region. At around 7:05 a.m., Palestinians from the nearby village of Tel began throwing stones and attacking the group with sticks, injuring one hiker in the face. The group retreated and continued along Ridge Road toward Havat Gilad.
At approximately 8:05 a.m., the group faced a second confrontation when dozens of Palestinians from Tel attacked and threw rocks. According to witness testimony, a single Israeli soldier arrived at that point, though two other soldiers who were with him did not appear immediately. Two armed civilians from the hiking group fired in self-defense, but witnesses said they had limited ammunition, carrying only a single magazine.
As the attack escalated, Palestinians surrounded the group from three directions. According to witness accounts, one soldier equipped with full ammunition refused to fire. "The soldiers were standing aside, doing nothing and refused to open fire," according to one witness statement. "As a last resort, the civilian security personnel attempted to repel the Arab mob and fired some rounds into the air, but it had no effect."
During the confusion, one Palestinian from the village, identified as a sheikh, seized the weapon from one of the civilian security personnel and fired. Witnesses said only at that point did the soldiers return fire.
Binyahu Melet, 32, a resident of Havat Gilad and head of security for the settlement, was shot during the rescue operation and killed at the scene. He left behind his wife and two daughters, ages 12 and 13.
The IDF later confirmed that soldiers eliminated the attacker responsible for the shooting.
