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Photo:
Israeli military forces near the scene of the shooting by Shavei Shomron, on Tuesday. Credit: JAAFAR ASHTIYEH - AFP Published by Haaretz

Scene. Published by IMEMC News

Sgt. Ido Baruch, 21. Published by Haaretz
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A manhunt is underway for several shooters who escaped the scene unharmed ■ Nablus-based Lion's Den militant group claims responsibility for the attack, calling for a 'day of rage' against Israeli forces ■ This marks the second soldier killed in the West Bank in four days

by Hagar Shezaf,Jack Khoury, and Yaniv Kubovich for Haaretz
Oct 11, 2022 12:52 pm IDT

An Israeli soldier was shot dead in the northern West Bank on Tuesday in an attack claimed by a Nablus-based Palestinian militant group, according to the Israeli military spokesperson. Security forces are searching for several gunmen.

The soldier, identified as 21-year-old Ido Baruch from Gadera, was shot near Shavei Shomron, an Israeli settlement near the northern West Bank city of Nablus, in what defense officials believe was a drive-by attack. Forces at the scene did not fire back at the shooters, who escaped unharmed.

Baruch is the second soldier killed in the West Bank in four days.

The Nablus-based Lion's Den militant group, which includes hundreds of young people from various Palestinian organizations, took responsibility for the shooting and said it was just the beginning of "days of rage" directed at Israeli forces. The group called for widespread public participation in carrying out attacks against Israeli targets.

The shooting occurred during a settler march headed to the nearby Palestinian town of Sebastia, though the shooters did not target marchers and none were injured.

The march was held at the initiative of the Samaria Regional Council, which said was attended by thousands of participants, including lawmakers Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben-Gvir. The event was approved in advance by Israel's military, which secured it.

A military source said that the terrorists "encountered a military post that was meant to serve as a flack jacket of the residents, and unfortunately the soldier paid with his life because of one fatal bullet."

Settlers said they would demonstrate today at intersections across the West Bank in response to the shooting.

Over the last few days, Israel's military has beefed up its forces across the West Bank and remains on heightened alert due to the holiday of Sukkot.

On Tuesday morning the military said security forces arrested ten wanted persons across the West Bank overnight, including in the city of Hebron and in the villages of Naama, Deir Abu Meshal, Beit Awwa, Khirbat Atayeh, Anzah, Zatra and Beit Fajjar. In addition to the arrests, the forces seized weapons, military equipment and stolen vehicles.

At the same time, the search for the Palestinian suspected of shooting dead 18-year-old Israeli soldier Noa Lazar and seriously wounding a security guard on Saturday in East Jerusalem continues.

Lazar was killed when 22-year-old Shoafat refugee camp resident Udi Tamimi exited his vehicle at a checkpoint and shot at soldiers from close range, ultimately escaping unharmed.
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Israeli Soldier Seriously Injured In Shooting Near Nablus

by IMEMC News
Oct 11, 2022

An Israeli soldier was seriously injured Tuesday in a shooting targeting a large group of colonizers marching near Nablus, in the northern part of the occupied West Bank.

The Israeli army said the wounded soldier, 20, suffered a serious gunshot wound to the upper body before he received treatment at the scene and was rushed to an Israeli hospital.

The army added that the shooting occurred near the colony’s eastern gate and stated that the wounded soldier was shot in the shoulder; his condition was initially described as mild but later deteriorated and was classified as serious.

The shooting occurred when dozens of colonizers marched near the illegal Shvei Shomron colony, built on stolen Palestinian lands west of Nablus.

According to a preliminary investigation by the Israeli army, a Palestinian opened fire from a moving car near the colony before the vehicle sped away.

Following the shooting, the Israeli army pushed more troops into the area, invaded all nearby Palestinian villages and towns, and initiated a massive search campaign for the shooter and the car. The army also closed all military roadblocks leading to Nablus.

On Monday, the Palestinian Health Ministry confirmed the death of Mahmoud Mohammad Sammoudi, 12, who, on September 28, was shot and seriously injured by Israel army fire when the soldiers also killed four young Palestinian men in Jenin and Jenin refugee camp in the northern West Bank.

The four Palestinians killed on the day of the invasions of Jenin and its refugee camp were identified as Mohammad Hisham Abu Na’sa, 25, Abdul-Rahman Fathi Khazem, 27, Ahmad Nathmi Alawna, 24, and Mohammad Mahmoud Barahma, 30.

On Sunday morning, the Israeli army announced the death of Sgt. Noa Lazar, 18, an Israeli soldier who was shot by a Palestinian at a military roadblock near Shu’fat, in occupied Jerusalem, on Saturday evening.

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