Two Israeli soldiers killed in car-ramming attack near Nablus

Two Israeli Defense Forces soldiers were seriously injured and later died after a Palestinian terrorist rammed his vehicle into them near Nablus in the West Bank on Wednesday evening.

The two were identified as Staff Sgt. Eliya Hilel (20) from Tel Zion, and Sgt. Diego Shvisha Harsaj (20 years old), from Tel Aviv. They served together in the Nahshon battalion of the Kfir brigade, which occupied one of the checkpoints at the entrance to Nablus.

The two soldiers were controlling another vehicle when the terrorist accelerated his minivan and ran over them before fleeing towards Nablus.

The terrorist then surrendered to Palestinian security forces who have not yet transferred him to Israel, Army Radio reported.

Hilel and Harsaj were evacuated to a hospital in critical condition, but were later pronounced dead.

IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi arrived at the scene of the attack yesterday evening and conducted an assessment of the situation with senior IDF commanders. The deadly attack comes amid a recent surge in terrorist activity in Judea and Samaria.

After Wednesday's shooting at Israeli village From Bat Hefer, the IDF intensified its activities in the Tulkarem area and increased checkpoints around the city. The Israeli army believes that the terrorists, who have not yet been arrested, came from the nearby refugee camp.

The head of the local Shomron regional council, Yossi Dagan, lamented the deteriorating security situation in Judea and Samaria on Wednesday, criticizing security forces for allowing the terrorist to escape “unhindered” into the Palestinian territory.

“I once again appeal to the government to continue with full force to carry out offensive operations in villages to locate terrorists and collect weapons,” said.

Israeli forces have arrested some 4,000 wanted Palestinians in the West Bank since October 7, including more than 1,700 affiliated with Hamas.

The Palestinian Authority Health Ministry says more than 510 Palestinians were killed during this period. The Israeli military said the majority of those killed were shot during counterterrorism raids.