The IDF said its initial investigation found that a group of Israelis entered Areas A and B of the West Bank without prior coordination, leading to a violent confrontation in the village of Tell. One Israeli, Benayahu Mellet, 32, was killed after a Palestinian snatched a weapon and opened fire; the IDF platoon commander killed the gunman. Three other Palestinians were also killed. The military expressed concern about possible Jewish reprisal attacks and is deploying forces.
The deadly confrontation in the West Bank village of Tell this morning began when a group of dozens of Israelis, including children, entered Areas A and B without prior coordination with the military, according to the IDF's initial investigation. The hike turned violent when dozens of Palestinians confronted the group near a mosque. Israeli settlers fired into the air, and the civilian security coordinator from the nearby Havat Gilad settlement arrived with another civil defense squad member, along with IDF officers.
During the clash, a Palestinian snatched an assault rifle from one of the armed Israeli civilians and opened fire, killing Benayahu Mellet, 32, a member of the civil defense squad. The IDF platoon commander returned fire and killed the gunman. Three more Palestinians were killed in the exchange; the military is still investigating how they were shot. Four other Israelis were wounded.
The IDF assesses the attack was spontaneous, not pre-planned, but warns of a 'fuel' atmosphere and potential Jewish reprisals. The military is deploying forces ahead of Mellet's funeral and preparing a large-scale arrest operation in the region. As The Zioneer reported at 13:41, the IDF ordered all Central Command soldiers to remain on base and began a counter-terror operation in Tell.
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