The Israel Defense Forces and Shin Bet have mapped the homes of the two Palestinian terrorists who carried out Friday's deadly shooting attack near Havat Gilad in northern Samaria, and the homes are expected to be sealed shortly. The shooter was killed at the scene, and the accomplice who snatched a soldier's weapon and used it to kill Master Sgt. (res.) Benayahu Mellet was arrested by IDF commandos.
Israeli security forces have mapped the homes of both Palestinian terrorists who carried out Friday's deadly shooting attack near Havat Gilad in northern Samaria, the IDF and Shin Bet confirmed early Sunday morning. The homes are expected to be sealed in the coming days, a standard counterterrorism measure intended to deter future attacks. The military said the mapping was conducted by forces under the Samaria Brigade, with the shooter's home mapped after his elimination and the accomplice's home mapped after his arrest in Nablus.
The attack on Friday, July 24, killed Maj. Yuval Ezra, 27, and Master Sgt. (res.) Benayahu Mellet, 32, who were responding to a mob attack on Jewish hikers near the village of Tell. The shooter was killed at the scene, and the accomplice who snatched Mellet's weapon and used it to shoot him was arrested by Duvdevan commandos. At 06:06 Sunday, an Israeli security source first reported that the homes had been mapped for temporary sealing. The military then confirmed the operation in a series of statements, detailing the mapping of both homes and the steps toward sealing and potential demolition.
As The Zioneer reported on Friday, Central Command Chief Maj. Gen. Avi Bluth vowed a wide counterterrorism operation across Judea and Samaria following the attack. Footage circulating on Friday showed the terrorist walking calmly after the shooting, and the widow of Mellet eulogized him as a hero who always jumped first. The sealing of homes is a standard Israeli measure, with decisions on demolition to follow security recommendations.
The exact timing of the sealing has not been specified, and the military has not announced whether the homes will be demolished or sealed permanently.
3 developments
- DevelopingIDF, Shin Bet arrest two terrorists from Samaria shooting; Central Command chief vows wide operation
- StrongTwo IDF soldiers killed in Samaria terror attack; IDF Central Command vows intensified operations
- DevelopingNew graphic footage from Havat Gilad attack shows terrorist snatching weapon, shooting victim
- DevelopingIDF lifts siege on Shechem, advances to seal terrorist's home after Havat Gilad attack
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