Israeli killed in West Bank terror attack
Two Israeli victims were traveling near the settlement of Dolev when a Palestinian fired at them and their vehicle at point-blank range; Hamas welcomes attack but doesn't claim responsibility.
Danny Gonen (25), a resident of Lod, was officially proclaimed dead at Tel HaShomer Hospital on Friday after being critically wounded in a shooting attack along a dirt road near the Israeli settlement of Dolev in the West Bank.
Gonen and another 25-year-old Israelis were traveling in the area inside a vehicle when a Palestinian signaled for them to stop as if to ask for help before firing on them from point-blank range. Magen David Adom and a large number of IDF
troops were rushed to the area which was cordoned off as searches began for a suspect.
Magen David Adom confirmed that both of the victims were evacuated for medical care at Tel HaShomer hospital, one in critical condition by helicopter and one by ambulance.
Israeli police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld says the exact circumstances of the shooting are unclear but that police suspect it was a "terror attack."
Hamas welcomed the attack, but fell short of taking responsibility for organizing or carrying out the shooting.
"We welcome the excellent and heroic attack," said the group from Gaza. "Israel's crimes will not pass without a reaction of resistance."
Initial investigations into the incident indicated that those responsible for the attack acted alone without backing from any organization.
Gonen's uncle called the deceased "the best kid in the world" and said that he is survived by his mother and four brothers.
The attack occurred on the first Friday of the holy Muslim month of Ramadan but prayers at Jerusalem's al-Aqsa mosque which police said were attended by about 80,000 worshippers, passed without incident.
Two Border Police officers - a man and a woman - were wounded last month in a vehicular terror attack in Jerusalem, on the ascent to the Mount of Olives. If proved to have been nationalistically motivated, Friday's attack would be the first on Israelis in the last month.
Noam 'Dabul' Dvir, Reuters and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
