Jerusalem, Israel – Israeli authorities reported at least one fatality and several injuries on Thursday in a shooting along a highway in the occupied West Bank, just outside of Jerusalem. The incident occurred near the A-Zaim checkpoint, with the gunmen opening fire on vehicles waiting in traffic. The shooting left one man dead and five others injured, one of whom is in serious condition.
According to the Magen David Adom (MDA) emergency rescue service, the deceased victim was a man in his 20s, while a woman in her 20s is currently in serious condition. The MDA also stated that an additional person was injured, but did not specify the nature of their injuries.
Israel Police released a statement confirming that the gunmen arrived in vehicles from the Ma’ale Adumim settlement and began firing M-16 automatic weapons at civilians in vehicles. Security forces were able to neutralize two of the shooters at the scene, while another attempted to flee but was also apprehended.
The police referred to the gunmen as terrorists, identifying them as residents of the Bethlehem area, although no further details regarding their identities were provided. This recent shooting adds to a series of terror attacks against Israelis in the occupied West Bank in the past few weeks, including a shooting near a synagogue in January that resulted in the deaths of at least seven people, described by the police chief as “one of the worst terror attacks in the past few years.”
Authorities have not provided any further updates on the investigation, but the situation is ongoing.