West Bank Palestinian Terrorist Kills Three Israeli Police Officers

Latest Developments

A Palestinian terrorist killed three Israeli police officers in the West Bank on September 1, ambushing officers in their patrol car at Tarqumiyah junction before fleeing the scene. Hamas praised the attack but stopped short of taking credit.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) later tracked down the terrorist to the West Bank city of Hebron, where commandos of the Duvdevan unit surrounded the building where the gunman holed up and exchanged fire. The gunman was eventually killed and his body found with an M16 rifle.

Police later identified the victims as First Sgt. Roni Shakuri, 61, Command Sgt. Maj. Hadas Branch, 53, and Chief Inspector Arik Ben Eliyahu, 37. Shakuri’s daughter, Mor, served in the Sderot police force and was killed repelling Hamas terrorists as they attempted to seize the Sderot police station on October 7, 2023.

The attack on the Israeli police officers follows a string of terror attacks against Israelis in the past several days. On August 28, Hamas leader Khaled Mashal called for a resumption of “martyrdom operations” against Israelis. Since October 7, more than 30 Israelis have been killed by Iran-backed terrorists in the West Bank.

Expert Analysis

“The West Bank is fast proving to be a front as dangerous, in terms of Israeli death tolls, as Gaza or Lebanon. As with those battle zones, the main instigator is the regime in Iran, which has been flooding Palestinian communities with arms for mass-murder.” — Mark Dubowitz, FDD CEO

“The U.S.-backed Palestinian Authority has proven unwilling and unable to contain the Iran-backed terrorists in the West Bank. The deadly spike in terror emanating from the West Bank brings into question whether the mandate of the Palestinian Authority — and the U.S. funding it receives — needs to be reevaluated.” — Enia Krivine, Senior Director of FDD’s Israel Program and National Security Network

Hamas Increases Terror Attacks Against Israelis

Hamas has repeatedly threatened to resume attacks — including suicide bombings — against Israel in recent months. Terrorists from the West Bank city of Hebron carried out coordinated twin car bombings on August 30; three Israelis were lightly injured in the attack. On August 18, a Hamas terrorist from the West Bank city of Nablus botched an attempted terror bombing in Tel Aviv. His explosive devise detonated early, killing the perpetrator and wounding a passerby.

Israel Targets Terrorist Commanders in West Bank

During intensive operations in the West Bank in August, the IDF successfully eliminated Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) military commanders. On August 29, the IDF targeted and eliminated PIJ commander Muhammed Jabber in the city of Tulkarem. According to the IDF, the operation involved the Shin Bet intelligence agency, Yamam (National Counter-Terrorism Unit), and military troops who were deployed to a mosque where Jabber was found hiding alongside four gunmen. The following day, Israel Border Police eliminated local Hamas commander Wessam Hazem in the city of Jenin. The IDF said Border Police forces, acting on Shin Bet information, located Hazem in a vehicle and eliminated him.

Related Analysis

“Palestinian Terrorists Unleash Twin Car Bombings in West Bank,” FDD Flash Brief

“Israel Eliminates Hamas Commander in Jenin,” FDD Flash Brief

“NATO Member Turkey Hosts Conference With Hamas Leader Calling for Suicide Bombings,” FDD Flash Brief

“Israel Eliminates Palestinian Islamic Jihad Commander in Tulkarem,” FDD Flash Brief