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What happened: Four Israelis were killed and another four wounded (one in serious condition) in a shooting attack at a petrol station next to the Eli settlement in the northern West Bank on Tuesday afternoon.

• Two gunmen, later identified as Hamas activists, arrived at the petrol station by car. They entered the adjacent Hummus restaurant, opened fire with automatic weapons and murdered three people. A fourth man was then shot and killed at the petrol station itself.
• In an exchange of fire one of the terrorists was killed by an armed civilian. The second fled in a car, but was shot dead by Israeli forces two hours later after boarding a taxi bound for Jenin.
• The attack was condemned across the political spectrum. Prime Minister Netanyahu said, “Our troops are operating on the ground now to settle accounts with the murders. We have already proven in recent months that we settle accounts with all murderers, without exception. Everyone who has attacked us is either in a grave or in prison. That will be the case here as well. I want to say to everyone who wishes to kill us, all options are open. We will continue to fight terrorism with full force and we will defeat it.”
• National Security Minister Ben Gvir, visiting the site last night said, “The time has come for a military operation in Judea and Samaria. Yes, to resume targeted killings from the air, to bring buildings down, to set up roadblocks, to expel terrorists and to pass the death penalty for terrorists bill in its second and third readings.”
• Leader of the Opposition Lapid commented, “Four people murdered and the heart breaks for the families and friends who have lost the most precious of all in an act of murderous and deliberate terrorism. I send my condolences and share in the families’ sorrow, and pray along with the entire Israeli public for healing and consolation. I strengthen the security forces that operate incessantly against terror and I trust them to find the murderers and their dispatchers.”

Context: This latest attack is further evidence of the proliferation of automatic weapons at the disposal of terrorists in the West Bank.

• Overall 28 Israelis, the vast majority civilians have been killed in terror attacks this year, (compared to 20 this time last year). Over 130 Palestinians have been killed in the same period, the overwhelming majority being armed young men. However, yesterday a 15 year old Palestinian girl died as a result of injuries caused during the heavy exchange of fire in Jenin on Monday. She was the seventh victim, the other six were all gunmen.
• These attacks, compounded by the weakness of the Palestinian Authority, have led to increased public calls for the IDF to launch an expanded operation in the West Bank.
• The IDF leadership is currently opposed to launching a large-scale operation. This position is supported by the prime minister and defence minister. The top level security consultation held last night was restricted to an inner forum and excluded ministers Ben Gvir and Smotrich.
• The IDF preference is to continue targeted raids against specific individuals based on intelligence.
• However, some have argued that if a wider operation is inevitable, it is better to take the initiative and strike before there is a major terror attack.
• The parallel often cited is Operation Defensive Shield in 2002. However, that operation largely focused on targeting suicide bomb making labs. With the exception of the IED (improvised explosive device) deployed on Monday in Jenin, the majority of the attacks have been committed by gunfire.
• Right wing groups have also called to restore more internal West Bank checkpoints. However the army is not in favour as it harms non-combatant Palestinians and could instead create more static targets for terrorists.
• There is also a widening disparity between the relative calm in some Palestinian cities like Ramallah, Hebron and Bethlehem and the lawlessness of Jenin and Nablus.
• Hamas continues to favour calm and economic growth in the Gaza Strip, whilst fuelling incitement and violence in the West Bank.
• The events of Monday’s operation in Jenin is still being reviewed. The IEDs planted on road that targeted military vehicles reflects Hezbollah tactics and a ‘Lebanonisation’ of the West Bank.

Looking ahead: In the first instance more IDF troops, in large numbers are being deployed across the West Bank, both in an effort to show a greater presence and reinforce the sense of security, also to prevent further vigilante violence by right-wing extremists.