A pregnant Israeli settler was killed in a shooting in the occupied West Bank, Reuters reported. The incident sparked a sharp reaction from hardline pro-settler leaders, who called for the destruction of nearby Palestinian villages, News.bg reports.
The shooting took place near the settlement of Bruhin in the northern West Bank. No one has claimed responsibility for the attack so far. The Israeli army said it was conducting an operation to find the perpetrator.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog said the victim, Tzeela Gesz, was shot while she was traveling in a car with her husband on her way to the hospital where she was due to give birth. According to Israeli media, Gesz was pronounced dead after being transported to a hospital, where her baby was delivered by cesarean section. The newborn is in serious but stable condition. Her husband, Hananel, was slightly injured.
The incident comes amid one of the largest Israeli military operations in the West Bank in two decades. Far-right Israeli politicians reacted sharply, comparing Palestinian towns in the area to targets in the Gaza Strip offensive.
“Just as we are destroying Rafah, Khan Yunis and Gaza, we must also destroy the terrorist nests in Judea and Samaria,“ said Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, using the Israeli term for the West Bank.
The Israeli army's chief of staff, Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir, visited units involved in the operation to search for the attacker. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the incident as horrific.
“I trust the security forces, who will once again find the killers and deal with them and anyone who helped them,“ Netanyahu said.
The Israeli army confirmed late last night that soldiers were actively pursuing the attacker. It was not clear whether any suspects had been identified.