Militants opened fire on a public bus in the West Bank late on Saturday in the third shooting incident in the past month, the military confirmed.
No injuries were reported, and the security forces said they were conducting searches in the area to locate the perpetrators.
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Shooting attack on a public bus traveling on the West Bank
(Photo: Mateh Binyamin Regional Council)
According to officials from Mateh Binyamin Regional Council, the bus traveling near the village of Silwad was full on passengers when it was hit by at least eight bullets.
"We see an increase in violence and a loss of deterrence," head of Mateh Binyamin Regional Council Israel Gantz said. "We demand immediate action to remove the threat of terror attacks."
The driver of the bus said there were no troops in the area where the shots were fired.
"I heard the gunfire and quickly escaped the area to get as far away as I could from the gunmen," the driver said. "When I saw the damage to the bus, I could not sleep at night. I am still shaking. I drive this route often, but have never encountered such an attack," he said.
The bus drivers' union, Histadrut Haleumit, said public transport was viewed as an arm of the state and was therefore targeted repeatedly. "The Transportation Ministry must adopt a program to reduce the risk to drivers and passengers," the union said.
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Weapon found in the possession of three woman arrested on the West Bank on Saturday
(Photo: Defense Ministry)
Earlier on Saturday, three women were arrested after weapons were found in their vehicle at the Qalqilya border crossing along with a suicide note.
The women, believed to be from the Nablus area, did not resist their arrest or attempt to open fire toward the troops at the crossing. Security forces said they were investigating whether they had been trying to get detained for personal reasons.