Four Israeli civilians were injured, one critically, in a shooting attack at around23:00 Monday evening, as Palestinian violence continues to escalate during the month of Ramadan.

The four men were travelling home from a basketball game near the Israeli community of Shvut Rachel, north of Ramallah, when an unknown number of gunmen targeted their car.

Speaking to the Tazpit News Agency, a security official revealed, “After an initial investigation of the attack, it appears the terrorists were waiting in a vehicle on the roadside for an opportunity.”

“They opened fire on a passing Israeli vehicle, containing a group of young residents from the village Kokhav HaShahar who were travelling home. All occupants were injured the fire,” the source stated.

Paramedics from Magen David Adom treated the victims at the scene, before evacuating them to two Jerusalem hospitals.

One patient at the Shaare Zedek Medical Center is still in a critical condition, a spokesperson told Tazpit on Tuesday morning. The man underwent an operation after arriving at the hospital.

The spokesperson added that the other patient in their care was stable, and in a light condition.

Hadassah Ein Kerem reported to Tazpit on Monday night that the other two victims of the attack were in stable conditions. One man, around 34-years old, was at the time of the report in an operating theater, moderately wounded but in a stable condition.

The other victim, a 26-year old man, was described as in a moderate condition, and was awaiting an operation. All four victims had received gunshot wounds to the legs, while some received hits to their upper bodies as well.

Monday night’s attack was one of six serious incidents in the past two weeks, while it has been noted that there has been a sharp increase in Palestinian violence since the beginning of the month of Ramadan.

Chairman of the Binyamin Regional Council Avi Roeh told Tazpit, “The eventtonight joins a list of events of terror that began since the beginning of the Ramadan month of fasting.”

“We will not allow this to threaten our daily lives here. I am confident that our settlement will grow, become stronger and expand despite incessant attempt to harm her,” Roeh said.

In one recent attack, Danny Gonen, an Israeli civilian, was killed around 50km away from Shvut Rachel near the community of Dolev, while travelling to hike at a nearby nature spot.

Other attacks have not been limited to targeting unarmed civilians. IDF soldiers and Israeli Border Police have also been targeted in various stabbing and shooting attacks in the past two weeks.

Photo description and credit: Scene of the drive-by attack / Hillel Maeir – Tazpit News Agency