IDF places Election Day closure on West Bank after attacks

The IDF has decided to reinforce troops near Hebron and Jericho in response to terror attacks on Saturday and Sunday.

 Israeli security forces guard at the scene of a vehicle-ramming attack in the Almog Junction, in the West Bank, October 30, 2022. (photo credit: JAMAL AWAD/FLASH90)
Israeli security forces guard at the scene of a vehicle-ramming attack in the Almog Junction, in the West Bank, October 30, 2022.
(photo credit: JAMAL AWAD/FLASH90)

The IDF will place a closure on the West Bank and close the crossings between Israel and the Gaza Strip on Election Day on Tuesday, after terrorist attacks targeted Israelis in Jericho and Kiryat Arba over the weekend, the IDF Spokesperson's Unit announced on Sunday.

A terrorist injured five IDF soldiers when he rammed his car into a bus stop in the Almog intersection south of Jericho on Sunday, the IDF Spokesperson's Unit confirmed.

The terrorist first began his attack Nebi Mussa, and from there continued to Almog Junction and rammed into a bus stop where IDF soldiers were present.

Neutralizing the Palestinian terrorist attacker

A policeman who was at the scene, together with a civilian, shot the terrorist who is in serious condition, according to a Hadassah-University Medical Center spokesperson.

MDA medical teams provided medical treatment on the spot to five injured people all in their 20s, who are fully conscious. Two were moderately wounded with a head injury and three had minor injuries to the limbs. Two of the victims were later reported as being conscious and in stable condition in Jerusalem's Shaare Zedek Medical Center.

 Israeli security forces guard at the scene of a vehicle-ramming attack in the Almog Junction, in the West Bank, October 30, 2022. (credit: JAMAL AWAD/FLASH90)
Israeli security forces guard at the scene of a vehicle-ramming attack in the Almog Junction, in the West Bank, October 30, 2022. (credit: JAMAL AWAD/FLASH90)

The terrorist was identified as 49-year-old Palestinian Barkat Odeh from El-Azaria in east Jerusalem who is married to a woman from Shuafat, according to Hebrew media. He had previously spent time in prison for drug offenses.

The incident follows another terrorist attack that happened in Kiryat Arba, when 50-year-old Ronen Hannina was shot by a Palestinian terrorist on Saturday.

IDF decides to reinforce troops in Judea

The IDF decided to reinforce troops in the Judea region after two terrorist attacks targeted Israelis near Hebron and Jericho on Saturday night and Sunday, according to the IDF Spokesperson's Unit.

According to a defense source, the reinforcements include a company of IDF soldiers, an operational arm from the Border Police's Internal Security Division, 10 teams of Border Police officers from the Jerusalem envelope and Border Police companies from the Judea and Samaria region, as well as Israel Police officers.


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This is a developing story.