Israeli father and son slain by gunman in West Bank car attack

Two Israelis were killed Friday in a shooting attack near the West Bank city of Hebron, army and medical officials said.

According to a statement from Israel’s military, the two were killed when an unknown gunman opened fire on their vehicle. Israel forces deployed roadblocks and were searching the area for the assailant, who reportedly fled by car.

According to media reports, the occupants of the car were members of a Jewish family, residents of one of the settlements in the area. They were identified as a 40-year-old man and his 18-year-old son, and reports said they were sitting in the front seats when they were hit by gunfire.

Medical officials said emergency teams arriving on the scene pronounced the two dead.

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Additionally, a teenage boy was evacuated to Soroka Hospital in Beersheva with light injuries sustained when the car crashed to a halt. Also receiving treatment were his mother and three other children, who were suffering from anxiety.

The incident occurred south of the settlement of Otniel near Hebron, which has been a focus of violence in recent weeks.

Israeli media reported that the gunman stopped his vehicle at the side of the road and waited for an Israeli car to pass. After the fatal shooting, occupants of another Israeli car reported shots fired at the vehicle, with no injuries.

Ground troops and aircraft searched for the assailant, believed to have driven away toward a village near Hebron. Two Palestinian villages were encircled by Israel’s military, Israeli media reported. Palestinian media reported that access to several other villages was also closed off.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu extended condolences to the family and vowed Israel would find the “despicable murderers” and judge them severely. Israel will “continue to fight terror” in all locations necessary, the prime minister added.

Also Friday, Palestinian media reported a 23-year-old man was shot and killed during clashes with Israeli forces in Halhul, north of Hebron.

Sobelman is a special correspondent.

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