Israeli security troops at the scene of a shooting near Hebron in the occupied West Bank. Reuters
Israeli security troops at the scene of a shooting near Hebron in the occupied West Bank. Reuters
Israeli security troops at the scene of a shooting near Hebron in the occupied West Bank. Reuters
Israeli security troops at the scene of a shooting near Hebron in the occupied West Bank. Reuters

Netanyahu blames Iran for attacks amid surge in West Bank violence


  • English
  • Arabic

An Israeli woman was killed and a man wounded when their vehicle was fired on near Hebron, in the occupied West Bank, on Monday morning.

Later on Monday, eight Palestinians were injured during an Israeli army raid near the city of Nablus, according to Wafa, the official Palestinian news agency.

One of the eight was in critical condition with a gunshot to the head, the report said.

The army did not respond to requests for more information.

The attacks, which follow the fatal shooting of two Israeli settlers on Saturday, came amid a spate of violence across the occupied West Bank, leading Israel to send army reinforcements and launch raids, cordoning off the town of Hebron, and fatally shooting a Palestinian near Nablus.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also said on Monday that Iran was behind the attacks and that Israel was considering retaliation.

The Israeli military said the shooting took place on the Route 60 motorway that connects West Bank villages with Jerusalem and Israeli settlements.

Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigade claimed responsibility for the attack, hours later.

Israel’s emergency service initially said it was treating two people for serious injuries following the incident near the Ksavir junction.

A woman was later pronounced dead after medics administered CPR at the scene.

Israeli media identified her as Sheva Nigri, 40.

The man was admitted to an intensive care unit in the Israeli city of Beersheba.

A six-year-old girl in the car was unharmed, Israel's Kan public broadcaster reported.

Israeli soldiers closed off access to Hebron and sent a large number of troops to search the area, Palestinian state news agency Wafa reported.

Israeli Channel 12 news said the Israeli army is sending more troops to bring the total number of battalions operating in the West Bank to 23 – the highest number in 15 years, it said.

The head of Hebron municipality's activities department, Mahmoud Abu Sbeih, told The National that the city's centres have been assigned to “accommodate people stuck in the city until the entry and exit points are reopened”.

Several armed groups, including Palestinian Islamic Jihad and Hamas, the militant group that controls Gaza, praised Monday's attack.

Hamas said the shooting occurred on the 54th anniversary of an arson attack on Al Aqsa Mosque.

The gun attack was “a warning message once again that Al Aqsa is a red line”, Hamas said.

“Attempting to demolish it will ignite the entire area,” Hamas spokesman Abdul Latif Al Qanoua said on Telegram.

Hours later, at least 100 Palestinians rushed to the eastern Gazan border to protest against the attack on Al Aqsa Mosque.

More than eight people were injured by tear gas and one by live ammunition during Israeli forces dispersal of the demonstrators, Palestinian state media reported.

Monday's violence happened two days after two Israeli settlers were killed in a shooting near the flashpoint Palestinian town of Huwara.

Israeli forces on Monday also searched for the perpetrator of the Huwara attack in the town of Beita near Nablus where one Palestinian was shot in the head by the troops.

His connection to the attack was unclear but a video shared by Palestinian media showed him walking down a road, seemingly unarmed, wearing a white shirt when he is suddenly struck before he collapsed.

On Monday evening, Mr Netanyahu and Defence Minister Yoav Gallant visited the site of the Hebron attack.

Mr Netanyahu blamed the “terrorist attack” on Iran, which he said “encouraged and directed” the incident. Mr Gallant accused Iran of financing the attacks.

“All options are on the table,” he said.

The West Bank has this year been the scene of some of the deadliest violence between Israel and the Palestinians in about two decades.

At least 218 Palestinians have been killed in violence linked to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict this year.

More than 30 Israelis and several foreign citizens have been killed in Palestinian attacks, according to a tally by AFP.

Three members of a British-Israeli family were killed in an ambush near an Israeli settlement in April, when gunmen attacked their car.

The violence has also led Israeli settlers to storm nearby Palestinian villages, setting cars and businesses on fire.

Some of Darwish's last words

"They see their tomorrows slipping out of their reach. And though it seems to them that everything outside this reality is heaven, yet they do not want to go to that heaven. They stay, because they are afflicted with hope." - Mahmoud Darwish, to attendees of the Palestine Festival of Literature, 2008

His life in brief: Born in a village near Galilee, he lived in exile for most of his life and started writing poetry after high school. He was arrested several times by Israel for what were deemed to be inciteful poems. Most of his work focused on the love and yearning for his homeland, and he was regarded the Palestinian poet of resistance. Over the course of his life, he published more than 30 poetry collections and books of prose, with his work translated into more than 20 languages. Many of his poems were set to music by Arab composers, most significantly Marcel Khalife. Darwish died on August 9, 2008 after undergoing heart surgery in the United States. He was later buried in Ramallah where a shrine was erected in his honour.

The Perfect Couple

Starring: Nicole Kidman, Liev Schreiber, Jack Reynor

Creator: Jenna Lamia

Rating: 3/5

What is a rare disease?

A rare disease is classified as one that affects a small percentage of the population. More than 7,000 diseases are identified as rare and most are genetic in origin. More than 75 per cent of rare genetic diseases affect children. 

Collectively rare diseases affect 1 in 17 people, or more than 400 million people worldwide. Very few have any available treatment and most patients  struggle with numerous health challenges and life-long ailments that can go undiagnosed for years due to lack of awareness or testing.

The Matrix Resurrections

Director: Lana Wachowski

Stars:  Keanu Reeves, Carrie-Anne Moss, Jessica Henwick 

Rating:****

PROFILE OF SWVL

Started: April 2017

Founders: Mostafa Kandil, Ahmed Sabbah and Mahmoud Nouh

Based: Cairo, Egypt

Sector: transport

Size: 450 employees

Investment: approximately $80 million

Investors include: Dubai’s Beco Capital, US’s Endeavor Catalyst, China’s MSA, Egypt’s Sawari Ventures, Sweden’s Vostok New Ventures, Property Finder CEO Michael Lahyani

The specs
Engine: 2.7-litre 4-cylinder Turbomax
Power: 310hp
Torque: 583Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh192,500
On sale: Now
Our legal consultant

Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.

Updated: August 21, 2023, 8:43 PM`