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Seven injured in West Bank shooting attack

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Seven people were injured last night in a drive-by shooting attack near Ofra in the West Bank.

A 21-year-old pregnant woman was seriously injured and taken to Shaare Zedek Hospital in Jerusalem where doctors delivered her baby. She is currently stable but her baby is in a critical condition. The shooting took place at 21:25 on one of the busiest hitchhiking spots in Binyamin on Route 60 at the entrance to the settlement of Ofra. A car approached the roadside and fired at people standing near the road. Israeli army soldiers stationed nearby fired at the vehicle but the driver fled the scene.

The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) are conducting a manhunt for the attackers. Palestinian residents reported that a large military force entered Silwad, east of Ramallah, and have raided a house. Residents also reported that the IDF are searching the nearby village of Ein Yabrud, west of Ofra.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the incident was a serious terrorist attack and: “We will not rest until we find these murderous criminals and bring them to justice.”

The Yesha Council said: “A course of action is needed to strengthen the settlement enterprise with security, construction and by legalising settlements.” Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked said: “I call on the prime minister to immediately annex the settlement of Ofra and grant it the status of a regular settlement in our country.”

US President Donald Trump’s special envoy to the Middle East peace process, Jason Greenblatt, said the attack was “absolutely disgusting.” Israeli ambassador to the UN Danny Danon tweeted: “A short time ago, a despicable terrorist fired from a vehicle at Israelis – including a pregnant woman – in Ofra. Once caught, the Palestinian Authority will pay the terrorist a monthly salary, as this is part of the PA’s incitement campaign, which encourages such attacks.” US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley retweeted him adding: “These payments need to stop.”

Hamas praised the attack saying: “Despite all the attempts to uproot the resistance to the occupation, the action on [Sunday] evening proves that the principle of resistance is still alive and beating.”