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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed Friday to respond “with full force” after an attack near the Havat Gilad settlement outpost in the occupied West Bank left one Israeli and four Palestinians dead.
Israeli media reported that Palestinians seized a security officer’s weapon and opened fire near the outpost, close to Nablus. Three other Israelis were wounded in the attack.
Netanyahu said he would meet senior security officials to discuss Israel’s response.
“We will act with full force against the terrorists and those who orchestrate and sponsor them, and we will not allow terrorism in Judea and Samaria to regain a foothold,” he said in a statement.
Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich called on the Israeli military to take severe action against the village he said was responsible for the shooting and the surrounding area.
“I demand that the IDF act with an iron fist against the village of the murderers and its surroundings and restore governance and deterrence,” Smotrich wrote on the social media platform X.
Smotrich offered condolences to the family of the Israeli who was killed and said he was praying for the recovery of those wounded.
“A tough morning near Gilad Farm,” he wrote. “I send my heartfelt condolences to the family of the murdered, pray for the recovery of the wounded in the attack, and embrace the residents and hikers.”
Smotrich described residents of settlement farms and outposts as a defensive barrier for Israel and pledged continued support for them.
“The people of the farms and the heroic settlement pioneers are the defensive wall of the State of Israel,” he said. “We will continue to strengthen and honor them for their steadfast stand for our existence in the Land of Israel against Arab terrorism.”
Smotrich said Israel would not accept what he described as declining deterrence and increased attacks against settlers and farm residents in recent weeks.
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