Israeli man shot dead in West Bank and Palestinian driver killed by soldiers

On Sunday, violence erupted in the West Bank after a suspected Palestinian gunman killed an Israeli man, while Israeli soldiers fatally shot a Palestinian motorist who allegedly attempted to run them over, according to police reports. The gunman opened fire at Israelis gathered near the settlement of Neve Tzuf, close to Ramallah, with a car, leaving a man with critical gunshot wounds who later died in a hospital.

Police arrested the gunman several hours later at a Ramallah hospital. Meanwhile, Israeli soldiers later killed a Palestinian driver in Ganim, north of the settlement, after he allegedly tried to ram soldiers. No soldiers were injured in either incident. The timing of the shootings, which occurred on the eve of the Jewish holy day of Yom Kippur, has raised questions about their connection.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu instructed security agencies to increase their presence and carry out arrests and offensive operations in the region following the incidents. Hamas praised the killing of the Israeli but did not claim responsibility. West Bank violence has intensified since Hamas's October 7, 2023, attack on Israel and the subsequent Israeli military offensive in Gaza, which has seen an increase in militant settler attacks on Palestinians and Palestinian responses against Israelis.