Israeli killed, 2 seriously wounded in latest of 4 Palestinian terror attacks in Judea & Samaria within 24 hours

An Israeli was killed and three others were wounded when a terrorist opened fire with a weapon stolen from a security man in the area near Havat Gilad, in the greater Nablus area, early on Friday morning.

According to the Palestinian Authority Health Ministry, four Palestinians, including the terrorist, were killed and four others were wounded in the subsequent exchange of fire.

The shooting came after three stabbing attacks on Thursday, in which an Israeli soldier and a civilian were wounded. It also occurred near Havat Gilad, where a large-scale fire destroyed dozens of homes last weekend. Residents have accused local Palestinians of committing arson as an act of terrorism. Police arrested two suspects, though only on suspicion of causing the fire without intent.

Amid heightened tensions between Jewish and Palestinian residents, a group of around 30 Israeli civilians was hiking near the Palestinian village of Tell. Army Radio reported that they were attacked by residents near a mosque on the outskirts of the village.

אנחנו מפרסמים כעת תיעוד מהרגעים הראשונים של הפיגוע בשומרון היום:

ניתן לראות את קבוצת המטיילים היהודים, בהם ילדים (לפי גורמי ביטחון - היו שם כ-30 ישראלים בערך), עומדים בפאתי הכפר הפלסטיני שאליו הגיעו לטייל, ובמרכז התיעוד - העימות שהתפתח בין עשרות פלסטינים מהכפר שיצאו לעבר… pic.twitter.com/GqM64H21sU

— דורון קדוש | Doron Kadosh (@Doron_Kadosh) July 24, 2026

The security coordinator of Havat Gilad and IDF soldiers rushed to the scene to help them. Footage from the incident shows that a scuffle developed as the security forces tried to distance dozens of Palestinians from the Jewish group, which included several children.

At this point, a terrorist stole a weapon and opened fire, killing one Israeli and seriously wounding two others. A fourth was lightly wounded.

“Additional IDF soldiers were dispatched to the scene and are currently pursuing the terrorists while establishing security roadblocks in the area. A temporary cordon was imposed on the city of Nablus and the Tell area,” the Israeli military said.

It later added that soldiers recovered the stolen weapon and returned it to its owner. "A joint security agency situational assessment is currently being conducted, led by the Commander of the Central Command, with the participation of representatives from the Judea and Samaria Division, Israel Police officers from the Judea and Samaria District, and the Shin Bet," the IDF reported.

The Israeli military says troops killed the Palestinian who snatched a weapon from a civilian security coordinator and opened fire near the West Bank village of Tell.

Israeli soldiers operating in the area "eliminated the terrorist who carried out the attack and injured several… pic.twitter.com/yqj1zSEgVq

— Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian (@manniefabian) July 24, 2026

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he would meet with the defense minister and the IDF chief on Friday to discuss ways to respond to the series of attacks. "We will act with full force against the terrorists and those who dispatch them, and we will not allow terrorism in Judea and Samaria to rear its head," he stated.

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, leader of the settlement movement’s main political party, Religious Zionism, sent his “heartfelt condolences to the family of the victim,” while demanding the IDF “act with a firm hand against the terrorists' village and its surroundings, and to restore governance and deterrence.”

“We must not normalize the erosion of deterrence and the growing boldness of our enemies in recent weeks toward the pioneers of the settlements and the farms,” he said.

The head of the Yesha Council, Israel Ganz, also demanded drastic action.

Gantz noted, “The area is on fire – literally and figuratively. The wave of arson attacks, attempted terrorist attacks, and the Palestinian Authority's ongoing incitement are all part of a single campaign aimed at harming the settlement movement and the citizens of Israel.”

“Judea and Samaria is not a secondary arena. It is a central front for the State of Israel, and policy here must change accordingly: launch a broad operation against terrorist strongholds, exact a heavy price from everyone involved in terrorism or incitement, and stop treating these attacks as routine.”

In a first response from the military, IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir said he instructed the bolstering of forces in the area following the “severe terror attack.” During an assessment, Zamir ordered “a broad reinforcement of forces to strengthen defense in the area and to capture all the terrorists involved in the attack.”

There were three separate terror attacks on Thursday. In the first, “two terrorists attacked and stabbed an Israeli civilian in the area where a fire had broken out adjacent to the community of Itamar,” according to the IDF. Israel Police and the Fire and Rescue Services later stated that the fire was caused by arson.

Israeli settlers had reportedly been working to extinguish the blaze near the Derech Avraham settlement. When a clash erupted with local Palestinians, two of them stabbed an Israeli before being shot and killed. The 51-year-old Israeli sustained serious wounds and was airlifted to a hospital.

عاجل | وزارة الصحة تعلن استشهاد الشاب يزن فخري صوافطة (25 عاما) من مدينة طوباس برصاص الاحتلال قرب دوار حداد شرق جنين، عصر اليوم. pic.twitter.com/JJEaK6I2Ae

— القسطل الإخباري (@AlQastalps) July 23, 2026

In another incident, a “terrorist stabbed an IDF soldier, who was lightly injured in the Ganim area,” the IDF reported.

The suspect was later identified by Palestinian media as a Palestinian Authority police officer.

“The [Israeli] civilian and the soldier were evacuated to a hospital to receive medical treatment, and the soldier’s family has been notified. Three terrorists were eliminated,” the military said.

Troops soon raided the terrorists’ homes in the towns of Beit Furik and Tubas. “The IDF will continue to conduct counterterrorism operations and will carry out enforcement activities to enhance the protection and security of residents throughout Judea and Samaria.”

Later on Thursday, Army Radio reported that a third attempted stabbing was prevented when a man from Hebron arrived at the Tunnels Checkpoint on a motorcycle. After arousing suspicion, he resisted arrest, and a knife was found on him during a search.