IDF Searching for Terrorist Who Killed Israeli Father and Son in Huwara

Latest Developments 

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) are searching for a Palestinian terrorist near the West Bank village of Huwara on August 19 after the murder of an Israeli father and his son at a car wash along the town’s main road. The pistol-wielding Palestinian suspect shot Ashdod residents Shay Silas Nigrekar, 60, and Aviad Nir, 28, at close range while their car was being washed before fleeing the scene on foot. Local Palestinian residents conducted CPR on the two victims before paramedics arrived, but the pair were later declared dead at the scene by the Magen David Adom ambulance service.  

The IDF put up barriers around the city of Nablus, north of Huwara, as well as nearby villages while searching for the suspect. According to Haaretz, the Shin Bet security service has detained the car wash owner and several employees to investigate whether they tipped off the terrorist to the victims’ presence.

Expert Analysis 

“Palestinian terrorists continue to murder Israeli civilians while the Palestinian leadership seems unwilling or unable to stop this violence. Palestinians will never have an independent state as long as Israelis believe that such a state will be a hotbed of terrorism and violence that threatens their civilians.” — Mark Dubowitz, FDD CEO

“Huwara is once again the scene of violence in the West Bank. This town of roughly 5,000 just south of Nablus continues to make headlines for all the wrong reasons. This pocket of unrest, among others, has the attention of the IDF as it struggles with deteriorating security in the West Bank. This suggests that the two-day IDF operation in Jenin last month was not a one-off occurrence.” — Jonathan Schanzer, FDD Senior Vice President for Research

Tensions in Huwara

Israeli forces have been on alert for months around Huwara, a West Bank friction point, where tensions between Jewish and Palestinian residents have been heightened since a Palestinian terrorist killed two Israeli brothers, Hallel Yaniv, 21, and Yagel Yaniv, 19, on February 26. Hours later, nearby Jewish residents rampaged through Huwara, killing one Palestinian, injuring others, and setting ablaze cars and homes.

In March, terrorists shot and injured two Israeli soldiers near Huwara and in May, an Israeli soldier was wounded in a ramming attack.

Related Analysis

“Mapping Terrorism in the West Bank,” by Joe Truzman

“Iran-backed West Bank Chaos,” by Joe Truzman

“Post Jenin Operation, Questions Linger About the State of the West Bank,” by Joe Truzman