Hamas Terrorist Attacks Israeli Bus in West Bank; 8 Injured, 3 Critically

On Friday, a Hamas terrorist launched an attack near Ariel in the West Bank, injuring eight people, including three critically. Security forces quickly neutralized the attacker, identified as Samir Muhammad Ahmad Hussein, 46, from Einabus near Nablus. The Al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas’s military wing, claimed responsibility for the attack.

According to the IDF, Hussein traveled from Nablus to Gitai Avisar Junction, stopping his vehicle 150 meters from a bus stop before opening fire on a civilian bus with an M-16 rifle. The wounded included bus driver Hassan Elsachen and four soldiers, who were lightly injured. Additional injuries resulted from shattered glass.

This incident follows heightened tensions in the West Bank since Hamas’s October 7 assault on southern Israel, which left 1,200 dead and led to intensified Israeli military actions. Over 5,250 Palestinians have been arrested in counterterrorism operations, with 716 Palestinians and 41 Israelis killed in subsequent violence. The IDF continues to investigate potential accomplices in this latest attack.