Benayahu Melet and Maj. Yuval Ezra were killed during a terrorist shooting attack in Samaria on Friday morning.
Benayahu Melet and Maj. Yuval Ezra were killed during a terrorist shooting attack in Samaria on Friday morning. The attack occurred near Havat Gilad, where a group of Palestinian terrorists attacked a group of hikers, stole their weapons, and opened fire. Benayahu Melet, a member of the community's rapid-response security team, rushed to assist the hikers and was killed during the rescue effort. Maj. Yuval Ezra, a commander in the 411th Battalion of the 282nd Artillery Brigade, was also killed in the action. In the ensuing gunfight, the IDF killed the primary terrorist and three other Palestinians, while four Israelis were wounded. Samaria Regional Council head Yossi Dagan praised the heroism of Benayahu Melet and called for an offensive response to terrorism. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that the administration will act with full force against the terrorists and ordered a series of security measures, including the demolition of the terrorist's home and intensified operations in identified terrorist strongholds. National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir also called for a tougher military response, urging the IDF to demolish the homes of terrorists and their supporters.