A Palestinian man armed with a pistol was shot dead by a security officer near the northern West Bank settlement of Kedumim just before midnight on Saturday, the military, medics and local officials said.
According to local security officials, around 11:50 p.m., a suspect was spotted on the settlement’s surveillance cameras as he approached the northern quarter of Kedumim
The settlement’s security coordinator and another security guard arrived at the scene and discovered the suspect, who had drawn a pistol at the time.
“The guard spotted a pistol-armed terrorist attempting to infiltrate the settlement and attacked, shot and killed him,” the settlement said in a statement to residents.
“The terrorist was unable to enter Kedumim and thank God there were no casualties,” the statement added.
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Rescuers Without Borders said the suspect was killed at the scene and there were no other injuries.
Security forces in the West Bank settlement of Kedumim after a security guard killed a Palestinian allegedly armed with a pistol on January 28, 2023. (Gabi Ivgi/Courtesy)
The Israel Defense Forces confirmed local officials’ account and said troops were scouring the area for other possible suspects. Sirens blared in the settlement as residents were ordered to remain indoors until further notice while the army searched the area.
A few hours later, the military said the threats were gone and residents could leave their homes and return to routine.
The IDF also released a picture of the suspect’s weapon.
Kedumim is near the Palestinian city of Nablus.
Earlier on Saturday, a Palestinian gunman opened fire on a restaurant near the Almog junction near Jericho in the West Bank and then fled after his gun appeared to be jammed.
In recent months, Palestinian gunmen have repeatedly attacked military posts, troops operating along the security barrier in the West Bank, Israeli settlements and civilians on the streets.
Saturday’s shooting and alleged attempted attack followed two terrorist attacks in Jerusalem last day. On Friday night, a Palestinian gunman from East Jerusalem killed seven and wounded three in the Neve Yaakov neighborhood, and the next morning a 13-year-old Palestinian shot and wounded two Israeli men near the Old City.
An Israeli police officer secures a firing range near Jerusalem’s Old City on January 28, 2023. (AP Photo/Mahmoud Illean)
The attacks followed days of violence in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
Tensions have increased dramatically since Thursday morning, when an IDF raid on a terrorist cell in the West Bank killed nine Palestinians – most of them gunmen and members of the cell, although at least one civilian was also killed.
The IDF said Thursday’s operation in the Jenin refugee camp was necessary to thwart forthcoming attack plans by a local Islamic Jihad terrorist cell. According to the IDF, the group detonated explosives and firearms.
Rocket fire from Palestinian terrorist groups and Israeli retaliatory air strikes erupted in the Gaza Strip on Thursday night, although both sides appeared anxious to avoid escalating into a full-blown war.
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