Israeli security forces at the scene of a car bomb explosion in the the Gush Eztion Junction in the West Bank, Aug. 31, 2024. (Photo: Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
Two separate terrorist attacks took place on Friday night in Judea, part of what is also called the West Bank, injuring three Israelis. The first attack happened at a gas station near Gush Etzion, while the second took place at the entrance of Karmei Tzur, a Jewish community located north of Hebron.
IDF troops eliminated a Palestinian terrorist in each location, with initial reports suggesting the two incidents might have been linked. The terrorists behind the suspected combined attack appeared to have plotted two large-scale car bombing attacks that were thwarted.
Shortly after 11:30 p.m. local time on Friday night, reports emerged that two people were injured and that a car had exploded near a gas station at the Gush Etzion Junction.
According to a preliminary investigation, the Palestinian terrorist noticed his car had caught fire and exited the burning vehicle. Footage from the scene showed him trying to attack people at the station.
IDF soldiers were dispatched to the scene, opened fire and eliminated the terrorist, the IDF said in a statement. The forces then began to scan the area to rule out the possibility of additional terrorists.
תיעוד | המחבל שביצע את הפיגוע בצומת הגוש מנסה לברוח ולתקוף לוחם – ונורה@ItayBlumental pic.twitter.com/iRfWljUOyN
— כאן חדשות (@kann_news) August 30, 2024
Ynet News reported that following the fire exchange, two men – aged 34 and 24 – suffered minor and moderate gunshot wounds, respectively. They were taken by Magen David Adom (MDA) emergency services to Shaare Zedek Hospital in Jerusalem
A few minutes later, at around 11:50 p.m., a second attack unfolded in an adjacent community
A Palestinian terrorist attempted to ram a local security guard who was stationed at the entrance gate of Karmei Tzur. His car was loaded with explosives that detonated when the guard opened fire. The terrorist was neutralized.
“Large IDF, Israeli Police, and ISA forces dispatched to the area are conducting wide-range scans and blocking routes in the area,” read the IDF statement.
“A number of injuries have been reported. The details are still under review.”
This is a developing story…
