Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday ordered a sweeping crackdown across the West Bank, including increased troop deployments, new checkpoints, and expanded counterterrorism operations, after two Israelis were killed in a shooting near Gilad Farm.
According to the IDF, a group of Israeli civilians had illegally crossed into Palestinian Authority-controlled territory while hiking in the area, leading to a confrontation with local Palestinians. The military said Palestinians began throwing rocks before one of them opened fire.
The two Israelis killed were later identified as 32-year-old Master Sergeant (Res.) Benayahu Melet, a member of Gilad Farm's emergency response squad who was killed after rushing to aid the hikers, and 27-year-old IDF Maj. Yuval Ezra, an artillery battery commander.
Following the attack, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Israel Katz, and IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir held a security assessment to discuss Israel's response, the Prime Minister's Office said.
"We will act strongly against terrorists and their proxies, and we will not allow terrorism in Judea and Samaria to raise its head," Netanyahu said.
Netanyahu and Katz later announced five immediate measures: demolishing the home of the suspected attacker; expanding counterterrorism operations in villages described as "hotbeds of terror," including seizing weapons and revoking work permits, reinforcing IDF deployments across the West Bank, establishing additional checkpoints, and accelerating the authorization of existing farms and the establishment of new ones.
The two also stressed that security forces must be allowed to operate "freely and with full force" against terrorism without interference.
Shin Bet chief warns Israelis not to 'take the law into their own hands'
Shin Bet Director David Zini visited the scene and held a situational assessment with agency and IDF commanders, describing the attack as "grave and painful."
"We are working tirelessly, shoulder to shoulder with the commanders of the Central Command and the division, as well as IDF commanders and soldiers, to thwart terrorism in the sector," Zini said.
At the same time, he urged Israelis not to retaliate independently following the clashes in the area.
"I call on the public not to take the law into their own hands and to place their trust in the IDF and the Shin Bet, whose purpose and duty are to protect them," he said.