Israeli soldiers guard at the entrance to the West Bank city of Qalqilya, following a suspect shooting attack, June 22, 2024. Photo by Nasser Ishtayeh/Flash90
A Palestinian terrorist shot and seriously wounded an Israeli and wounded two other Palestinians in the West Bank city of Qalqilya on Monday evening before Israeli forces shot and killed him as he tried to escape.
The terrorist was identified as 18-year-old Tarek Daoud, who Hamas claimed was a “field commander” in the terrorist organization’s military wing.
Daoud was imprisoned in Israel for terrorism until last November, when he was freed as part of the first hostage release deal with Hamas. Upon his release, he immediately returned to carry out terror acts in recent months and was wanted by the Israeli security system, Army Radio reported.
After the shooting attack, Daoud attempted to flee the scene but was located and chased by Israeli security forces.
“The forces of the Ephraim Brigade strove for contact and killed the terrorist who carried out the attack at close range. Weapons were found in the terrorist’s vehicle,” the IDF announced later.
The terrorist was killed in a gunfire exchange at a roadblock near the Palestinian town of Azzun by Col. Netanel Shamaka, the commander of the Ephraim Regional Brigade, who led the manhunt.
While Israelis are prohibited by law from entering Areas A and B, which are located in Judea and Samaria (West Bank) and under Palestinian control, some Israelis choose to shop there because of the lower prices. In June, Amnon Muchtar (66) from Petah Tikvah was shot and killed in Qalqilya. He reportedly owned a vegetable store and wanted to buy produce in the city.
The IDF emphasized again that “the entry of Israelis into Area A is dangerous and prohibited by law.”
The Meir Medical Center in Kfar Saba later stated on the shooting victim: “He was rushed to the emergency department, and later transferred to the trauma center. His condition is defined as serious but stable.”
Last November, Israel and Hamas agreed that 50 Israeli hostages would be freed from captivity in Gaza in exchange for a temporary truce and the release of some 140 terrorists in Israeli jails.
Since the start of the war, initiated by the Hamas invasion and massacre in southern Israel on Oct. 7, terrorism in Judea and Samaria has risen sharply, leading to the deaths of 26 Israelis in terror attacks. an additional five soldiers and police officers have been killed in clashes with armed terrorists.
Israeli security forces have arrested some 4,400 wanted Palestinian terror suspects in the same timeframe, including over 1,850 affiliated with the Hamas terror group.
