In an incident along Highway 1 near Ma’ale Adumim just outside Jerusalem, Israel Police reported one Israeli killed and eight wounded, including three severely, in gunfire early Thursday morning.
Police confirmed armed civilians killed three assailants at the scene. The attackers were identified as Muhammed Zuwarah, 26, and his brother Hathem Zuwarah, 31, along with Ahmad al-Hush, 31, all from Bethlehem.
The assailants exploited a traffic jam at the A-Za’ayem checkpoint separating the West Bank from Jerusalem. They arrived in two vehicles, armed with an M-16 rifle, a Carlo submachine gun, grenades, and cartridges, firing at trapped vehicles.
Matan Elmaliach, 26, from Maale Adumim, was killed. Eleven injured individuals were transported to Jerusalem hospitals, including four in moderate condition: a 30-year-old woman with upper body gunshot wounds, a 23-year-old man with abdomen and limb wounds, a 51-year-old man with limb wounds, and a 52-year-old woman with limb wounds. Additionally, four victims with PTSD were evacuated.
United Hatzalah volunteer EMT Avraham Becker told the Jerusalem Post, “There were injured people at several locations. I provided initial treatment to two women who suffered gunshot injuries and another woman who suffered from emotional shock. Other United Hatzalah EMTs worked at the other scenes and assisted several more people who were in various conditions.”
The deputy mayor of Ma’ale Adumim, Guy Yifrah, also responded to the attack, describing the situation as a state of emergency.
“Driving with Palestinians on Route 1 is a ticking time bomb. The Israeli government must stop the shared travel of Ma’ale Adumim residents with Palestinian vehicles,” Yifrah stated.
“I demand the construction of a new road immediately and without delay. Until this road is paved, two additional checkpoints should be constructed. Palestinians must not be allowed to enter Jerusalem without inspection,” He added.
The attack occurred as the IDF and the Border Police braced for an even further increase in violence in the West Bank and Jerusalem due to the ongoing Gaza war and the upcoming month-long Ramadan holiday that begins on March 10.