Two Israelis lost their lives in a shooting attack near the flashpoint village of Huwara in the occupied West Bank on Saturday. The incident was captured in a photo by Alaa Badarneh/EPA-EFE.
Aug. 19 (UPI) — According to Israeli military officials, two Israeli citizens were killed in a shooting attack at a car wash in the occupied West Bank near Huwara, a flashpoint Palestinian village.
The Israeli Defense Forces stated in a statement that “IDF soldiers are pursuing the suspects and have set up blockades in the area” after two civilians were killed in what appears to be a targeted shooting attack.
The victims have been identified as Silas Nigerker, 60, and Aviad Nir, 28, who were a father and son duo.
Reports indicate that the two victims were at a car wash when they were approached by a gunman who opened fire on them, as detailed here.
Upon arrival, Israeli Ambulance Service paramedics found the injured individuals inside the car wash facility, unconscious and suffering from gunshot wounds. Despite their efforts to stabilize the victims, they succumbed to their injuries at the scene.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed his condolences to the victims’ family, emphasizing that the security forces are diligently pursuing the killer to bring them to justice.
Meanwhile, Abdul Latif al-Qanoua, a spokesperson for the Hamas militant group, hailed the shooting attack in Huwara as “heroic.”
Huwara has become a hotspot in the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict, frequently witnessing clashes between Palestinians and settlers from illegal Israeli settlements surrounding the area.
In a previous incident, in February, a group of Israeli settlers attacked Huwara, resulting in one fatality, four injuries, and significant damage to homes and vehicles, according to the Palestinian Red Crescent.
This attack followed another shooting incident in the Har Bracha settlement that claimed the lives of two Israelis.
After the earlier attack, hardline Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich sparked controversy by stating during a conference that “Huwara needs to be wiped out,” clarifying that it should be done by the State of Israel and not private citizens. He later apologized for his statement following international backlash.
