3 Jews Murdered in Terror Shooting Attack in Samaria

By JewishPress.com & COLlive

Three Israelis – two women in their 60s and a man – were murdered in a shooting attack that took place a short time ago in Al-Funduq, Samaria.

The Arab terrorists opened fire from a passing vehicle on a bus and a car. The terrorists fled the scene and security forces are hunting them down.

The murdered are:

Sergeant Elad Yaakov Vinklestein, an investigator at the police station in Ariel and a father of two.

Rachel Cohen, 73, a mother of 5 daughters and an educational consultant.

Aliza Rize, 70, who was also an educational consultant, and a mother. The two women were close friends.

Following the attack, Highway 55 was blocked from the Jit Junction to Karnei Shomron. Highway 60 was blocked at the Yitzhar Junction towards Jit, and from Mashvi Shomron towards the Jit Junction.

The IDF Spokesperson’s Office reported: “Following the initial report, terrorists fired at a bus and civilian vehicles near Al-Funduq in the Ephraim Brigade territory. Several civilians were injured in various ways and are currently receiving medical treatment. Security forces have launched a pursuit of the terrorists and are carrying out roadblocks and cordoning off several villages in the area.”

The MDA Spokesperson reported: At 09:18 AM, a report was received at MDA’s 101 Emergency Call Center in the Yarkon Region about a shooting targeting a bus and a vehicle on Route 55 near Al-Funduq (between Karnei Shomron and Kedumim). MDA EMTs and Paramedics are providing medical treatment at the scene to four injured individuals, including one in serious condition.

The MDA Spokesperson updated minutes later: MDA paramedics and EMTs are providing medical treatment on the scene to 6 casualties, including 2 women approximately 60 years old in critical condition, and 4 in moderate condition.

United Hatzalah EMTs Haim Kreif and Daniel Eshel reported from the scene: “Tragically, two women in their 60s and a man around 40 years old, who were in the vehicles that were struck by gunfire, were pronounced dead at the scene. Additionally, with assistance from United Hatzalah ambulance teams and medics from nearby towns, we provided initial medical treatment to seven passengers from a bus that was also hit in the attack.”

Israel’s Defense Minister Israel Katz said: “Anyone who follows the way of Hamas in Gaza and sponsors the murder and harm of Jews will pay heavy prices.

“I have instructed the IDF to act forcefully against any place where the murderers’ footsteps lead. We will not accept a Gazan reality in Judea and Samaria, and anyone who follows the path of Hamas in Gaza and enables and sponsors the murder and harm of Jews will pay a heavy price.”

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