A 22-year-old Israeli man, Shalev Zvuluny, was killed Thursday in a terror attack at the Gush Etzion Junction shopping complex in the West Bank. Two Palestinian attackers were shot dead at the scene.
According to authorities, the assailants arrived in a stolen car, stabbed Zvuluny—who was working as a security guard—and stole his firearm before exchanging fire with a nearby soldier and an armed civilian.
The terrorists, identified as newly trained Palestinian Authority police officers, were later named as Mahmoud Abed and Malik Salem, both 23. Neither had a prior security record.
Eyewitnesses described chaos and gunfire. One civilian who helped neutralize the terrorists said, “It was a miracle a greater tragedy didn’t occur.”
The IDF has since locked down the area, surrounding the nearby town of Halhul. The attack underscores the ongoing volatility in the West Bank, where security forces have faced increasing violence since the start of the Gaza war in October 2023.
