The IDF opened a manhunt for the attacker near Nablus (Shechem).
By JNS
Two Israelis were killed in a terrorist attack near the village of Huwara, south of Nablus, in Samaria on Sunday.
The IDF said a terrorist drove to the Einabus junction and opened fire on a passing Israeli vehicle on Highway 60. The gunfire hit two civilians who were evacuated to the hospital for medical treatment, where they were pronounced dead.
They were subsequently identified as brothers Hillel Menachem and Yigal Yaakov Yaniv, both from the nearby community of Har Bracha.
Israeli forces blocked roads in the area of the attack and initiated a manhunt for the perpetrator.
An initial IDF probe found the gunman took advantage of a traffic jam to carry out the attack.
“On behalf of all citizens of Israel, I send from the bottom of my heart condolences to the Yaniv family from Har Bracha over the murder of Hillel Menachem and Yigal Yaakov—may their memory be for a blessing,” said Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
“Our answer to terrorism is to strike at it with force and to strengthen our hold on our country,” he added.
In response, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant carried out a situation assessment together with top security officials. He instructed the security forces to focus operational and intelligence efforts on apprehending the perpetrator of the shooting while taking all the measures necessary to prevent additional attacks. Gallant also approved the reinforcement of troops in Judea and Samaria for defensive purposes.
Huwara is one of a few Palestinian towns through which Israelis regularly transit to Jewish communities in Samaria.
Earlier this month, a terrorist attack in Jerusalem’s Ramot neighborhood claimed the lives of Yaakov Israel Paley, 6, his brother, Asher Menachem Paley, 8, and 20-year-old Alter Shlomo Lederman. Three days later, Israeli soldier St.-Sgt. Asil Sawaed, 22, died from wounds sustained in a terrorist attack at a checkpoint to Shuafat in northeastern Jerusalem.
In late January, seven people were killed and several others were wounded in a terrorist shooting attack at a synagogue in Jerusalem’s Neve Yaakov neighborhood.