IDF soldier Staff Sgt. Geri Gideon Hanghal was killed in a truck-ramming attack near Beit El on Wednesday, marking the third deadly incident in 11 days, which has claimed the lives of seven Israelis.
The attack occurred during an IDF operation when a gas tanker driven by 58-year-old Hayil Dif Allah, a resident of the Palestinian village of Rafat, rammed into a military post before colliding with a bus stop. Hanghal, a 24-year-old soldier of the Kfir Brigade from Nof HaGalil, was critically injured. Soldiers and an armed civilian at the scene swiftly neutralized the assailant.
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Staff Sgt. Geri Gideon Hanghal
(Photo: IDF Spokesperson's Unit, AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)
Authorities ruled out explosives on the truck, and firefighters isolated hazardous materials. IDF and Border Police forces later entered Rafat to survey the assailant's home for demolition.
This incident follows other violent attacks in the West Bank, including a shooting at the Allenby Crossing on Monday that left three Israeli cargo workers dead, and a deadly assault last week at the Tarqumiyah checkpoint.
West Bank council leaders have called for restrictions on Palestinian movement, citing fears of further attacks.
Fear of escalation ahead of the holidays
The IDF continues to bolster security measures as tensions rise, with concerns of a broader escalation ahead of the holidays. IDF and Shin Bet have intensified counterterrorism efforts, particularly in the northern West Bank, where around 70 terrorists have been killed in recent operations.
The spillover of terrorism to the southern regions of the West Bank, particularly Hebron, was underlined by recent car bombings and the attack near Tarqumiyah by assailants from Hebron. Security forces highlight a significant Hamas presence in Hebron that could escalate the situation.
Right as the Allenby Crossing attack was happening
A senior security official noted: "We foil attacks every night; IDF and Shin Bet have prevented many since the year began. We identify external efforts to increase attacks, and we are intensifying counterterror operations."
Against the backdrop of the Allenby Crossing attack, the entire eastern border is under scrutiny. The IDF fears the potential impact of the attack on young Jordanians and Palestinians in the northern West Bank, given Hamas and Iran's efforts to escalate their activities in Jordan.
During a visit to the Jordan Valley, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu emphasized the importance of securing Israel's eastern border. "We are in a multi-front battle. We must secure our eastern border with Jordan, a border of peace, but challenges are mounting," he said. Cooperation with Jordan is crucial to preventing the smuggling of terrorists and weapons into the West Bank and Israeli cities.
Another troubling phenomenon is the videos of armed terrorists in refugee camps, which create a perception of victory. Security forces are criticized for not neutralizing these armed figures, who focus on spreading fear and fostering a narrative of defiance.
Continued operations: 8 killed from the air
IDF operations in the West Bank have included significant aerial strikes. On Wednesday, Palestinian reports confirmed two airstrikes, killing eight. Among those killed was Imad al-Din Shahadeh, 28, a member of Palestinian Islamic Jihad's Tulkarm Battalion, alongside two other terrorists.
On Thursday morning, five terrorists were eliminated in an airstrike in Tubas. The IDF reported that operations continued in the Tubas sector, where a vehicle rigged with explosive devices was found and neutralized. Several suspects were apprehended, and weapons were seized.
In operations in Beit Ummar north of Hebron, forces arrested five terror suspects, confiscated a drone, and interrogated dozens of suspects. Twenty-three were arrested throughout the West Bank.