By Deborah Nnamdi
At least one person was killed and five others injured in a series of shooting attacks in central Israel on Sunday, according to emergency services and security authorities.
Israel’s emergency response agency, Magen David Adom, said a man believed to be about 35 years old died after sustaining gunshot wounds during the attacks.
The agency added that five other victims were treated and evacuated to nearby hospitals. Two of the injured were reported to be in serious condition, while three others sustained moderate injuries from gunshot wounds.
Israeli police said they tracked down a vehicle suspected to have been used in the attacks and subsequently killed a suspect believed to be responsible near the town of Kokhav Yair, located a few kilometres from the occupied West Bank.
Emergency responders said additional shooting incidents were reported in the neighbouring communities of Tzur Natan and Tzur Yitzhak, raising concerns over coordinated attacks across the area.
The Israeli military confirmed that one suspected attacker had been killed and said security forces were continuing searches for a second suspect believed to be involved.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said the Israeli leader had conducted a security assessment following the attacks and was closely monitoring developments.
Reacting to the incident, National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir called for severe punishment for those responsible. In a post on social media platform X, he said any attacker captured alive should face execution under recently approved legislation that allows the death penalty for Palestinians convicted of deadly terror-related offences.
“Jewish blood is not cheap. Whoever murders a Jew will see the hangman’s noose,” Ben Gvir wrote.
Security forces remain on high alert as investigations continue and efforts intensify to locate any remaining suspects connected to the attacks.
