One Israeli killed and three wounded in West Bank car ramming and stabbing attack

At least one Israeli was killed in a car ramming and stabbing attack in the occupied West Bank on Tuesday, Israeli medics said, following a spate of settler attacks on Palestinians across the territory.

A 30-year-old man was killed in the attack at Gush Etzion Junction, Israel's ambulance service Magen David Adom said.

Three people were also injured: a woman aged 40 in serious condition, a man aged 30, and a boy aged 15 in moderate condition, with penetrating injuries to their bodies, the service said. They were taken to hospitals in Jerusalem.

The Israeli army said that its soldiers killed two assailants at the scene. It said explosive materials were found in the vehicle used by the attackers and were being neutralised by Border Police bomb disposal specialists.

"IDF soldiers are conducting searches and roadblocks, and encircling the area," it added.

The Palestinian Health Ministry confirmed in a statement that two people were shot dead by Israeli forces south of Bethlehem. The two were identified as Omran Ibrahim Omran Al Atrash from the city of Hebron, and Walid Mohamed Khalil Sabarna from the village of Beit Ummar, both aged 18.

Israeli media reported the assailants had initially tried to ram their vehicle into pedestrians at the junction, before one got out and stabbed people.

The violence came a day after the UN Security Council gave its backing to US President Donald Trump’s blueprint to secure and govern Gaza. Hamas rejected the plan.

Settler violence in the West Bank has soared since a Hamas attack on Israel triggered the Gaza war in October 2023. At least 1,006 Palestinians, including militants, have been killed in the West Bank by Israeli forces or settlers since the war started, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry.

During the same period, 43 Israelis, including soldiers, have been killed in Palestinian attacks in the West Bank, according to official Israeli figures.

In the attack on Monday, Israeli settlers rampaged through the Palestinian village of Al Jab’a, torching homes and cars. The violence drew rare condemnation from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other senior leaders.

Israel’s military sent soldiers and police to the village on Monday after reports of fires and vandalism. Hours earlier, clashes erupted between Israeli security forces and settlers defending an unauthorised outpost on a nearby hill facing evacuation and demolition, according to Cogat, the Israeli military body that deals with civilians in the West Bank.