Jerusalem, 13 June, 2023 (TPS) — Israeli security forces launched a manhunt for Palestinian terrorists responsible for a drive-by shooting in northern Samaria on Tuesday afternoon.
Five Israelis — four soldiers and one civilian — were injured in the attack, which took place near the Palestinian village of Ya’abad. The civilian, a man in his 30s, suffered a gunshot wound in the upper part of his body.
The Hillel Yaffe Hospital in Hadera confirmed it was treating four victims for lesser injuries. The fifth victim, a soldier, was evacuated by helicopter to the Rambam Medical Center in Haifa.
The injured civilian is said to have been fired on by a passing car at a junction located between the communities of Hermesh and Mevo Dotan. According to the IDF, the terrorists proceeded to fire at an army vehicle, then escaped by car. The civilian driver was able to reach a nearby checkpoint, where he was treated by medics.
The IDF said it closed off roads in the area of Ya’abad and sent forces to find the terrorists.
The shooting came two weeks after gunmen killed Meir Tamari in a similar drive-by shooting at the entrance to the nearby Hermesh community. The IDF said it is examining the possibility that both attacks were carried out by the same terrorists.