Death of Three Israeli Police Officers by Unknown Armed Attackers in the West Bank

Three Israeli police officers were killed on Sunday morning, September 11, in an attack by unidentified armed Palestinians on a road near the city of Hebron in the West Bank. According to the Israeli rescue organization, a 30-year-old female officer was killed instantly while in the police vehicle, a 30-year-old male officer died en route to the hospital, and the death of a 50-year-old officer, who was transferred to the hospital with severe injuries from multiple gunshots, was announced at a medical center in Beersheba. The Israeli army stated that the police vehicle with the three officers was targeted by armed Palestinians who opened 'heavy fire' while driving towards the police vehicle near the checkpoint in the Palestinian area of 'Tarqumiyah,' located between the city of Hebron and the Israeli city of Kiryat Gat. The army announced that they continue to pursue the attackers. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack yet, but the extremist group Hamas, which is recognized as a terrorist organization by the U.S. and the EU, praised it. Itamar Ben-Gvir, Israel's Minister of National Security, who visited the attack site, called on the Ministry of Defense to restrict Palestinian movement on roads near Israeli cities, stating that 'the right to life' takes precedence over 'the right of saboteurs to move.' Mr. Ben-Gvir indirectly referred to the responsibility of the Ministry of Defense in deploying inspection forces on these Palestinian roads, saying everyone knows which minister is responsible for these incidents. The Minister of National Security has been involved in deep disputes with the country's Minister of Defense in recent weeks. Dani Levy, the Chief of Police of Israel, who accompanied Itamar Ben-Gvir during the visit to the attack site, stated that on Friday night, two Palestinian men from Hebron attempted to detonate bombs in 'Gush Etzion' and 'Karmi Tzur,' two Israeli settlements near Jerusalem. The Palestinian driver of one of the vehicles apparently detonated the bomb at a gas station near 'Gush Etzion' earlier than intended and was killed during a confrontation with security forces, while the driver of the other vehicle managed to escape from the checkpoint of 'Karmi Tzur,' which had been opened for the entry of an Israeli family, and entered the settlement. A guard at the entrance of 'Karmi Tzur,' in pursuit of this second bomber, killed the attacker by ramming the security vehicle into the bomber's car, causing the bomb inside his vehicle to explode. In both incidents, two Israeli security forces were lightly injured and discharged from the hospital on Saturday. The army stated that the two bombers were likely assigned to carry out simultaneous operations and had departed from the city of Hebron. According to Yedioth Ahronoth and Channel 12 of Israeli television, most militants in Hebron, which is the largest Palestinian city in this part of the West Bank, are affiliated with Hamas. Hamas had 'celebrated' this operation. The increase in armed attacks and attempts to bomb Israelis occurs as a joint operation by the army and Israel's internal security agency in the northern West Bank searching for Palestinian militants has entered a new phase since last Tuesday, with four Palestinian cities in this area placed under curfew. Herzi Halevi, the Chief of Staff of the Israeli army, visited his forces in Jenin in the northern West Bank on Saturday. The presence of the Chief of Staff in these Palestinian areas, which are apparently under the control of the Palestinian Authority, has been a rare event in the last two decades. Major General Halevi stated in Jenin, 'We are pursuing terrorists from city to city and camp to camp, and we will not allow terrorism to raise its head.' The army and Shin Bet began operations in the West Bank shortly after a Palestinian bomber's intention to kill people in a synagogue in Tel Aviv. In that incident two weeks ago, only the bomber was killed outside the synagogue in Tel Aviv, but his entry into the city with a bomb load was considered a serious event by Israeli security forces. In the army and Shin Bet operations in the West Bank over the past four days, at least 30 Palestinians have been killed and dozens of Palestinian men have been arrested. Palestinian sources have reported that several Palestinian militants in Jenin and other areas in the northern West Bank have surrendered to the security forces of the Palestinian Authority in recent days to avoid potential arrest and killing by Israel. Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and other armed Palestinian groups have warned Israel about the consequences of the 'continued killings' in Gaza. Officials of the Palestinian Authority have stated that Israel wants to repeat the fate of Gaza in the West Bank. The UN Secretary-General has also called for a halt to Israeli operations in the West Bank.