1 killed, at least 5 injured in terror shooting attack in central Israel, shooter killed

This is a developing story.

A 35-year-old man was murdered and at least five other people were wounded in a shooting attack near Kochav Yair in central Israel Sunday morning. 

According to initial reports, the event started when terrorists in a stolen Israeli car opened fire on a vehicle at a gas station near Kochav Yair, seriously injuring two men, where paramedics gave them medical treatment and evacuated them to Meir Hospital in Kfar Saba. 

The car then began to move north, shooting at other people along a road passing parallel to Kochav Yair, heading towards Palestinian territories. 

One of those injured was a security guard at an entrance to Kochav Yair, who was lightly injured in his hand. 

Two other peopler were injured as the car continued towards the community of Tzur Natan, one of whom was later declared dead, after resuscitation efforts failed, while the other was listed in serious condition. 

Alarms indicating a possible terrorist infiltration sounded in the communities of Tsur Yitzhak and Tzur Natan, warning residents to shelter in place as the incident unfolded. 

Israel Police began pursuit of the vehicle, eventually catching up with the shooter in quarries near the Arab town of Taybeh. The attacks took place along a road connecting several Israeli communities with the larger Arab city of Taybeh, and the attacker is not believed to have left his car during the shootings. 

פיגוע מתגלגל בשרון: אדם נרצח ו-5 נפצעו במסע ירי, תושבים מסתגרים בבתים
לפחות 6 נפגעים בפיגוע ירי באזור כוכב יאיר, מחבל תושב טייבה חוסל - ונמשך המצוד אחר חשוד נוסף: בצור יצחק וצור נתן נשמעה אזעקה ותושבים נקראו להסתגר בבתים מחשש לחדירת מחבלים, לפני כן נרצח גבר בן 35 וחמישה pic.twitter.com/FXtD35q19f

— כל החדשות בזמן אמת (@Saher_News_24_7) June 7, 2026

While initial reports, including a statement from the IDF claimed there were two terrorists involved in the shooting attacks, the Israel Police later clarified that only one attacker was involved in carrying out the shootings. 

The terrorist was stopped from entering the settlement of Selait, when confronted by the head of security for the settlement, who returned fire. He was later killed in a shootout with the police. 

Update on the suspected terror attack in the area Kochav Ya’ir

Police forces located the vehicle linked to the attack and neutralized the suspected terrorist. According to medical personnel, four civilians were injured and evacuated for medical treatment: three in moderate…

— Israel Police (@israelpolice) June 7, 2026

Police found the weapon involved in the shooting, describing it as a “Carlo” style weapon, a type of improvised submachine gun manufactured in the Palestinian territories in small workshops. 

The shooter was an Israeli Arab resident of Taybeh, the police statement said, noting that 

Magen David Adom (MDA) Director General Eli Bin told Army Radio that there were a total of six casualties scattered across the various scenes: one fatality, one seriously injured, and four with light-to-moderate injuries. All the injured were taken to the Meir and Beilinson hospitals. 

Summary of incidents in the South Sharon area

MDA paramedics and EMTs pronounced the death of a man approximately 35 years old with gunshot wounds, and treated and evacuated to Meir and Beilinson hospitals five injured casualties, two in serious condition and three moderate. pic.twitter.com/eKsDJ8HAZo

— Magen David Adom (@Mdais) June 7, 2026

The IDF reported that special forces were dispatched to the scenes of the attack and that the Shin Bet security service was also involved. 

Police and Shin Bet launched an investigation in Taybeh, while IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir ordered the army to cordon off a number of villages in the area where the attack took place. 

“Soldiers, together with additional medical personnel, began extensive searches for additional terrorists and are providing medical treatment to the injured,” the IDF said in a statement. 

“If the terrorist is caught alive—he will be executed—this is the law, and we will demand its enforcement,” National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir posted in a message to social media before the police announced the death of the terrorist. “Jewish blood is not forfeit. Whoever murders a Jew—will see the hangman's noose.” 

While not claiming responsibility for the attack, the Hamas terror group praised the shooting in a statement. 

“We commend the heroic shooting operation in the ‘Kochav Yair' settlement north of Qalqilya, and the operation that preceded it at the ‘Efrat' settlement junction south of Bethlehem, which come in response to the occupation’s aggression and its ongoing crimes in the Gaza Strip, the West Bank and Jerusalem,” Hamas said in a statement to its official social media accounts.