Two Israelis were murdered during a terror shooting attack near the settlement of Eli on Thursday.
Additionally, the IDF announced that it killed two of the three terrorists responsible for the shooting. It also announced that the third terrorist was later neutralized by security forces after taking cover inside a Hummus Eliyahu branch, without having taken any hostages.
“A report was received at 5:08 p.m. in the Jerusalem region about gunshot wounds on Route 60 at the gas station near the entrance to Eli,” A Magen David Adom spokesperson said. “MDA medics and paramedics provided medical treatment on the spot to two critically injured and unconscious people. More updates will follow.”
Shortly after, the MDA spokesperson reported that the two wounded Israelis succumbed to their wounds: “Update on the shooting incident at the Eli gas station. An ambulance on the spot reported two dead civilians, one in his 20s and one about 57 years old, and additionally, it is suspected that a terrorist has fled.”
Army radio also initially reported that two terrorists were killed at the scene and that security forces were on a manhunt looking for a third.
Later, Army Radio announced that there were no more suspected infiltrations, and residents were safe to leave their houses.
פיקוד העורף: הסתיים אירוע חדירת מחבלים ביישוב עלי – ניתן לצאת מהבתים ולנוע באזור ללא הגבלה@Doron_Kadosh
— גלצ (@GLZRadio) February 29, 2024
The IDF also announced that despite the threat ending, forces were continuing to scan the area for additional threats.
After the three terrorists were neutralized, Israeli media reported that Aviad Gazber, the owner of the Hummus Eliyahu branch that was used by the third terrorist as cover, was present and armed at the scene and neutralized one of the terrorists. Gazber is reported to be a soldier in reserves who was fighting in Khan Yunis and was in Eli for some time off before returning to duty.
Kan News posted an initial interview with him on X.
אביעד גזבר, שניטרל את המחבל בפיגוע הירי בעלי: “שמעתי יריות, הייתי בתוך החומוס, נתתי כדור כדי שהמחבל יבין שאני פה, ראיתי שהוא רואה אותי, הוא התחיל להסתער לכיווני, הורדתי אותו והמשכתי סריקות”@carmeldangor pic.twitter.com/3y5A6Hohk1
— כאן חדשות (@kann_news) February 29, 2024
Terror attack carried out in same gas station as last year’s attack in Eli
The settlement of Eli’s spokesperson commented on the initial event, saying, “A short time ago, there was a serious attack in which two Israelis were injured. A terrorist is neutralized on the spot. The attack took place at the Eli gas station where four people were murdered a year ago.”
According to a post by former Jerusalem Post correspondent Khaled Abu Toameh, one of the terrorists responsible for the attack was Mohammed Manasreh, a Palestinian Authority police officer.
Mohammed Manasreh, the Palestinian Authority police officer who carried out today’s shooting attack. pic.twitter.com/nc8KClFPNp
— Khaled Abu Toameh (@KhaledAbuToameh) February 29, 2024
Politicians respond to the attacks respond to the attack
Public Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir commented on the attack saying: “Yesterday, concessions by the cabinet regarding the Temple Mount; today, an attack. This morning the evacuation of Jews in Binyamin; now an attack. The cabinet [needs to] forget about the “conceptzia” [the idea that inaction will bring quiet]!
אתמול כניעה של קבינט הקונספציה בעניין הר הבית – היום פיגועהבוקר פינוי יהודים בבנימין – עכשיו פיגועהקבינט המצומצם, צאו מהקונספציה!
— איתמר בן גביר (@itamarbengvir) February 29, 2024
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich also commented on the attack, saying, “I will demand tonight at the cabinet meeting to change phase and get rid of the conceptzia in the West Bank as well. It is not the economic situation: It is a deep hatred of Israel that is no different between Gaza and the West Bank. It is not possible that every year, Ramadan and the period before it will become a bloodbath of murdering Jews. This is not a stroke of fate.”
MK Dan Illouz commented on the attack on X (formerly Twitter,) saying: “The response to the murderous attack should not be loose calls to calm the area ahead of Ramadan, as you hear in the news studios, but rather exacting a heavy price from the enemy. Complacency invites more terror. Charging a heavy price restores deterrence. Besides the elimination of the terrorists and all those who aided them and the dismantling of the terrorist networks in Israel, we must also deepen our roots in Israel as a response to those who want to cut us off from here. The response must include more settlement and actual steps towards the application of sovereignty. This is the only way we will restore peace.”
התגובה לפיגוע הרצחני לא צריכה להיות קריאות רופסות להרגעת השטח לקראת הרמדאן, כמו ששומעים באולפנים, אלא גביית מחיר כבד מהאויב. רפיסות מזמינה עוד טרור. גביית מחיר כבד משקמת את ההרתעה.חוץ מחיסול המחבל וכל מי שסייע לו ופירוק רשתות הטרור ביו”ש, אנחנו חייבים גם כן להעמיק את השורשים…
— דן אילוז – Dan Illouz (@dillouz) February 29, 2024
Eli settlement chairman Ariel Elmaleh said, “This is a serious attack. After the attack a year ago at the Eli gas station, another attack took place there. Now, the security forces, together with the Israeli community police, are conducting searches on the spot. Unfortunately, the writing was on the wall.”
The response of the head of the Gush Etzion Regional Council, Shlomo Na’aman, to the attack near the settlement of Eli: “Once again a very serious attack, again shooting at Jews. We embrace the families of the murdered in this difficult time and demand to reverse the equation in the West Bank. The Palestinian Authority is waging a war against us, and we must act vigorously to eliminate all threats throughout the West Bank. The State of Israel and the world must understand that there is no difference between the Palestinian Authority and Hamas terrorists. Whoever did not condemn the Simchat Torah pogrom, whoever financed the families of the terrorists who carried out the attack today, has no right to exist.”
David Turner is a globe-trotting journalist who brings a global perspective to our readers. With a commitment to shedding light on international events, he explores complex geopolitical issues, offering a nuanced view of the world’s most pressing challenges.
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