Terrorists from the Lions Den organization fired on an Israeli vehicle on Route 60 near the West Bank city of Hawara on Sunday, killing two people. According to local officials, the victims have been identified as Hillel Menahem Weigal and Ygal Yaniv Weigal, two brothers who live in the nearby town of Har Bracha.
“The terrorists drove to the Einbus crossing and opened fire on a passing Israeli vehicle. Two civilians were injured and evacuated to a hospital for treatment,” the Israeli army said in a statement. But they succumbed to their injuries. Roads in the area have been closed and the army is actively looking for the terrorists.
The Samaria Regional Council previously said the victims were Jews and that it was a terrorist attack.
“Unfortunately, this is a very difficult moment. The government must change the paradigm and move from defensive to offensive. It is not possible for terrorists to allow themselves to shoot innocent civilians in the middle of the day,” said Yossi Dagan, head of the Samaria Regional Council, who visited the scene.
“The aggressiveness of terrorism proves that there is no deterrence. The rules for opening fire need to be changed […]The people of Israel and the people of Samaria are strong, we will not give in to the murderous terrorism of the Palestinian Authority,” he said.
Hamas spokesman Hazem Kassem welcomed the attack. “Operation Hawara is a natural response to the occupation’s crimes, the latest of which is the Nablus massacre. The resistance in the West Bank will remain and intensify, and no plan or summit can stop it,” he said.
The gun attack came as Palestinian and Israeli officials began a “political security” meeting in the Jordanian city of Aqaba on Sunday to discuss a lull in the areas after several days of deadly violence.