Palestinian Terrorist Murders Israeli Boy in West Bank Shooting

Latest Developments

• Terrorist Fatally Shoots Child, Wounds Others: A West Bank terrorist carried out a shooting attack on a Jerusalem-bound bus at the El-Khader Junction in Gush Etzion on December 11. The suspect mortally wounded 12-year-old Yehoshua Aharon Tuvia and injured three other victims. The shooter, identified as Ezz Aldin Malluh from the town of Bayt Awa in the southern West Bank, turned himself into Israeli security forces.

• Hamas Lauds Shooting Attack: Hamas spokesperson Abu Obeida published a statement on his Telegram channel praising the attack without claiming responsibility for the deadly shooting. Obeida called on West Bank fighters and youth to carry out more attacks against Israelis, claiming that the Israeli government plans to annex the West Bank.

• Israeli Forces Launch West Bank Counterterrorism Operation: IDF troops, along with Israeli Border Police, carried out an operation in Qalqilya on December 12 to arrest suspects wanted for terrorist activities. During the operation, Border Police killed one suspect in a vehicle and eliminated another person who attempted to escape.  

FDD Expert Response

“Hamas is always on the lookout for opportunities to insert itself into the narrative, often seizing upon high-profile events, particularly terrorist attacks. Even when it’s not directly responsible for the violence, Hamas exploits these incidents to promote further terrorism. With its influence significantly diminished in Gaza following more than a year of war, Hamas is maintaining relevance in the West Bank, where its infrastructure remains intact despite the frequency of Israeli counterterrorism raids.” — Joe Truzman, Senior Research Analyst and Editor at FDD’s Long War Journal

“The terrorist attack at El-Khader Junction illustrates the increasing threat of terror in the West Bank. Various groups are seeking to spread these attacks from the northern West Bank, where they have been more common over the last year, to areas in the southern West Bank. El-Khader Junction is a major transit point for Israelis who live in Gush Etzion traveling to Jerusalem.” — Seth J. Frantzman, FDD Adjunct Fellow

FDD Background and Analysis

“Israel Seizes Deadly Iranian Weapons Destined for West Bank Terrorists,” FDD Flash Brief

“Profiles of 28 Iran-Backed Terrorist Groups and Branches in the West Bank,” by Joe Truzman

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