An Israeli hiker was killed and three others wounded Thursday morning in an unusually brazen shooting at Havat Gilad in the Samaria region, after an attacker managed to steal a rifle from the settlement's security coordinator and fire directly into a group of visitors.
The assailant, identified by witnesses as the sheikh of the Palestinian village of Tel, near Havat Gilad, seized the weapon during an initial confrontation with dozens of assailants who descended on the hikers. According to accounts from survivors, he immediately opened fire. MDA medics and IDF field medical personnel arrived at the scene and treated four casualties. One man, critically wounded from gunshot trauma to his upper body, was airlifted by military helicopter to Ichilov Hospital in critical condition. Medical teams at Ichilov worked extended resuscitation efforts before confirming his death.
Two additional wounded Israelis arrived at Ichilov in serious condition with gunshot injuries. A fourth victim was treated at the scene. Magen David Adom paramedics confirmed that the security coordinator later recovered the stolen weapon, though the circumstances remain under investigation.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened an emergency security meeting with the Defense Minister and IDF Chief of Staff to discuss response measures. In a statement, Netanyahu said: "We will act with force against the terrorists and their handlers, and will not permit terrorism in Judea and Samaria to lift its head." Security forces continued sweeping operations in the area to locate everyone involved in the assault.
The attack occurred weeks after two Palestinian suspects were arrested on suspicion of setting a major fire at Havat Gilad, raising Israeli security concerns about an escalation of organized terrorist activity in the vicinity.
