Israeli soldiers stand at the scene of an attack near the settlement of Givat Assaf in the West Bank, Thursday, Dec. 13, 2018. A Palestinian gunman opened fire at a bus stop outside a West Bank settlement on Thursday, shooting at soldiers and civilians and killing at least two Israelis before fleeing, the military and Israel's rescue service said. (AP Photo/Mahmoud Illean)
West Bank/Jerusalem: Two Israeli soldiers were shot dead Thursday at a bus stop on a main road in the Israeli-controlled part of the West Bank, the Israeli military said.
Staff. Sgt Yoval Mor Yosef of the Israel Defense Forces’ Kfir Brigade – also killed in the WB shooting
Mor Yosef was from the southern city of Ashkelon. Cohen was a resident of Beit Shemesh. Both were members of the Kfir Brigade’s Netzah Yehuda infantry battalion, a unit for religious soldiers.
The IDF said Mor Yosef and Cohen were posthumously promoted from the ranks of sergeant and corporal respectively after they were killed by gunfire in the attack outside the Givat Assaf settlement outpost.
IDF later released a video of the operation that resulted in the killing of Saleh al-Barghouti.
Another video from the IDF op that took down the Ofra terrorist Saleh al-Barghouti. pic.twitter.com/ZubAHHLN3g
— F. Jeffery 👁 (@Natsecjeff) December 13, 2018
Salafist militant group in Gaza. Tawhid Al-Jihad, called for more attacks in the West Bank in a statement. Credit: Joe Truzman
ITCT Newsdesk obtained photos from the room where Ashraf Na’alwa was hiding when he was surrounded and killed by IDF troops.
What's left of the home where Barkan fugitive engaged in a firefight with members of the security service tonight. Ashraf Na'alwa was eventually shot and killed. #Israel pic.twitter.com/LiYTaesLxf
— Joe Truzman (@Jtruzmah) December 13, 2018
Dozens of Israelis have been killed in such attacks in the past three years.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Thursday that there would be no ceasefire with Gaza, which is run by Hamas, while such attacks took place in the West Bank. After consulting with top security officials for several hours, Netanyahu beefed up troop levels in the West Bank, ordered detentions of Hamas activists and called for demolishing the homes of assailants within 48 hours.
“Our guiding principle is that whoever attacks us and whoever tries to attack us will pay with his life,” Netanyahu said at a military ceremony.
The Salafists of Salah Al-Din Brigades of Tawhid Al-Jihad in Gaza released posters threatening and applauding attacks in the West Bank. Credit: Joe Truzman
The Salafists of Salah Al-Din Brigades of Tawhid Al-Jihad in Gaza released posters threatening and applauding attacks in the West Bank. Credit: Joe Truzman
Qassam Brigades in the northern Gaza Strip paying tribute to Barkan terrorist Ashraf Na’alwa. Credit: Joe Truzman
Following Thursday’s attack, Israel set up checkpoints on the outskirts of the West Bank city of Ramallah, searching cars and checking the IDs of drivers entering the Palestinians’ typically quiet center of government and commerce. Some Israeli-controlled roads were completely blocked to Palestinian traffic.
Lt. Col. Jonathan Conricus, an Israeli military spokesman, said the measures were aimed at preventing “copycat” attacks. “We know that when there is one attack there may be others,” he said.
Inside Ramallah, streets were empty and shops were shuttered as the Palestinians called a general strike to protest Israel’s actions, including the killing of two wanted militants.
In the aftermath of the attack, Palestinians and soldiers clashed on the outskirts of. US Ambassador David M. Friedman tweeted: “The Palestinian Authority maintains laws that will compensate these terrorists and their families for their heinous acts. The PA can be a political body OR a sponsor of terror, not both.”
The IDF blamed the increase in attacks both on terror groups’ ongoing efforts, the “copycat” phenomenon and a number of significant dates coming up this week, notably the anniversary of the Hamas terror group’s founding.