The heavily pregnant woman and her husband wounded in Wednesday night's shooting attack in the northern West Bank were on their way to the hospital for the birth of their baby when the terrorist opened fire on them near the Peduel and Bruchin settlements. Shortly before the attack, the man, about 40, sent a message to his work saying that he would not be able to fix a problem he had been asked to handle, because he and his wife were on their way to give birth. At the hospital, doctors have delivered the baby, but its condition is not yet clear.
Gun fire was opened at three vehicles on Highway 446; apparently carried out by shooting from a passing vehicle. Following the attack, the IDF launched a manhunt for the terrorist and has imposed a blockade on the Palestinian village of Bruqin. Special units, including a paratrooper patrol, a Shaldag and commando units, as well as Israeli Air Force aircraft, have also been deployed to pursue the terrorist or terrorists. At the same time, roadblocks were deployed in the area.
Scene of shooting attack on Highway 446 between Bruchin and Peduel
(Video: Courtesy of Magen David Adom)
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Scene of the attack between the West Bank settlements of Bruchin and Peduel
(Photo: Courtesy of Magen David Adom)
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a statement about the attack: “I am deeply shocked by the horrific attack in Samaria against a woman in advanced pregnancy and her husband, as they were on their way to the delivery room. This despicable act highlights precisely the difference between us—those who cherish and bring life—and the vile terrorists whose purpose in life is to kill us and cut lives short. I trust our security forces will quickly track down the murderers in this case as well and hold them—and anyone who aided them—accountable.”
The commander of the Ephraim Brigade, Lieutenant Colonel Faiz Fares, arrived at the scene - on his first day on duty. The brigade's 5035th Battalion is leading the pursuit of the terrorist or terrorists. As part of the manhunt, IDF forces imposed a blockade on the Palestinian village of Bruqin. The head of the Shomron Regional Council, Yossi Dagan, who is currently on an official visit to Washington, has stopped his day of meetings and is holding ongoing consultations with the IDF and security officials.
Magen David Adom paramedic Erez Vogel WAS one of the first responders to arrive on the scene.
A flare over the Palestinian village of Bruqin as teh manhunt for the shoooter continues
“We left from a nearby community with the ambulance and arrived quickly. On the side of the road, we saw a private vehicle with signs of gunfire. Inside was a woman in the driver’s seat, unconscious and suffering from severe gunshot wounds. In the passenger seat sat a man in his 40s, fully conscious, who was also wounded by gunfire. He was trying to treat the injured woman next to him, attempting to stop her bleeding," he described.
“We pulled both of them out of the vehicle and provided medical treatment. The woman was loaded into an intensive care ambulance and evacuated to the hospital while undergoing CPR—her condition was critical. The man was transported in a separate intensive care ambulance, fully conscious but in serious condition.”
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The attack was apparently carried out by shooting from a passing vehicle. The IDF has launched a manhunt for the terrorists. A special task force was opened and intelligence forces were also deployed, trying to track down the shooters. At the same time, roadblocks were deployed in the area.
First published: 22:15, 05.14.25