Two Chareidi IDF Soldiers From Nachal Chareidi Murdered

Yossi Cohen HY”D

Yuval Mor Yosef HY”D

Two Israelis were murdered and another two injured – one critically – in a Palestinian terror attack Thursday morning, just one mile from the Ofra attack earlier this week.

According to the latest information available, shots rang out from a vehicle at Givat Assaf Junction in the Binyamin Regional Council area of Shomron at about 11:15AM this morning, Thursday, 5 Teves. The gunfire was directed at Israelis standing at a hitchhiking post at the location, which is about two kilometers (1.2 miles) south of Yishuv Ofra, on Route 60, the main north/south road in Shomron.

After stopping the blue Mitsubishi, a terrorist got out and began firing at soldiers and civilians at the hitchhiking station. He then got back into the vehicle and fled the scene. A manhunt for the terrorist is underway at this time. The area remains shut down. It appears the terrorist abandoned the blue sedan near Ein Tut and entered Ramallah on foot. The IDF has sealed off Ramallah and no one is permitted to enter or leave as they are working to locate the terrorist responsible for this latest fatal attack.

Two IDF Soldiers were pronounced dead on the scene following life-saving efforts. They were in traumatic arrest as a result of their massive injuries.

The soldiers have been identified as:

Yossi Cohen HY”D from Yerushalayim. He previously lived in Bnei Brak. His father was Niftar around 5 years ago, and was the dentist of Hagaon HaRav Chaim Kanievsky.

Two other victims, a male and female, were rushed to the trauma units of Shaare Zedek and Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospitals in Jerusalem. MDA reports that the male is in Hadassah, in critical condition, and the female in Shaare Zedek Hospital, in serious condition.

Hadassah reports the victim is a 21-year-old male with a gunshot wound to his head, stating he is in critical/life threatening condition.

It was later reported that security forces made an arrest of a Palestinian suspect believed responsible for the attack. He appears to be dressed in an IDF uniform. No additional information is available at this time.

Hamas has praised the attack, and the lack of condemnation of the attack from PA Chairman Abu Mazen is the norm, as his administration provides financial support for wounded terrorists and the families of slain terrorists.