The IDF said on Monday it was responding to shootings that targeted a town in northern Israel, with the Islamic Jihad terrorist group claiming responsibility for the attack.
There were no casualties and Israeli troops were scanning the area around Kibbutz Ma’ale Gilboa, where several houses were damaged by bullets, the army said.
Footage released by the Islamic Jihad terrorist group appears to show attackers opening fire at an Israeli town, apparently from the West Bank side of the Green Line.
The terrorist group claimed that the homes they targeted are in Merav, an Israeli town located just over the Green Line from the West Bank.
However, the IDF says that shots were fired at the neighborhood of Maale Gilboa.
The Emek HaMaayanot Regional Council said in a statement that the attack took place on Monday evening and that the suspects were shot under the security barrier of the West Bank.
נסין פיג חיג ע ב ש ש ש: apparently the terrorists arrived by car from מאזור ג’נין וירו מגרההרההרהההה
بجيهاد آيسلمي برسمو ات هتيود هاز, لدبریهم مدوبییبویبورییورا in the security system بودکیم ام دوبر هاز pic.twitter.com/jc3tE97XFN
— итай блументаль Itay Blumental (@ItayBlumental) April 3, 2023
Residents of Ma’ale Gilboa were immediately informed and ordered to remain in their homes. Later in the evening, they were given the all-clear.
Although shooting attacks targeting Israelis do occur periodically, they occur more often within the Green Line and the decision to target Israeli civilians within Israel proper is less frequent.
Earlier in the day, the Defense Ministry said a Palestinian man attempted to carry out a shooting attack at the nearby Gilboa crossing between the West Bank and Israel. The ministry said the suspect came to the checkpoint brandishing a gun. Security guards recognized him and fired a warning shot in his direction. The suspect managed to flee the scene in a car.
