Violence Flares in West Bank as Israeli and Palestinian Men Are Killed
Violence escalated in the occupied West Bank on September 20 after a suspected Palestinian gunman opened fire near the settlement of Neve Tzuf, close to Ramallah, killing an Israeli man. Israeli police said the attacker was later located at a hospital in Ramallah and arrested.
Shortly afterward, the Israeli military said its forces killed a Palestinian driver near the settlement of Ganim after he allegedly attempted to ram soldiers with his vehicle. No soldiers were reported injured, but Reuters said it could not independently verify the military's account.
It was not immediately clear whether the two incidents were connected. The attacks occurred on the eve of Yom Kippur, one of the holiest days in the Jewish calendar.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered security forces to increase their presence and conduct arrests and military operations in the area. Hamas praised the shooting but did not claim responsibility.
The incidents come amid continuing violence in the West Bank since the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack and the subsequent Israeli military campaign in Gaza, with Palestinian attacks and Israeli military operations and settler violence contributing to rising tensions.
