8 wounded in Samaria terror shooting | IDF Chief Halevi hints at resignation after Oct 7 investigations | IDF reiterates: Lebanese civilians forbidden from returning south

14:46 - Terrorist who shot eight people in Samaria identified as resident of Nablus

The terrorist who carried out the attack at the Gitti junction earlier was identified as Samer Hussein, 46, a resident of the Nablus area, Israeli media reported.

According to Army Radio, Hussein traveled to Gittin junction using a route that is open to Palestinian movement without checkpoints. He stopped his car about 150 meters from the intersection, got out of the vehicle armed with an M-16 rifle, and opened fire on a parking bus while walking toward it.

IDF soldiers who were on guard at the junction returned fire and killed him. "The IDF estimates that the terrorist did not act alone, but was part of a squad, and they are now working to reach the people who helped him, provided him with the weapon and the vehicle," according to the report.

"It is estimated that in the coming weeks, the scope of alerts for terrorist attacks will increase - in preparation for the Ramadan period."

13:38 - High-ranking Emirati official visits family of murdered Rabbi Kogan

Dr. Ali Rashid Al Naimi, a high-ranking Emirati official, visited the family of Rabbi Zvi Kogan, who was murdered in the UAE last week, in their home in Israel. The family is observing the Jewish custom of sitting in mourning for seven days (called Shiva).

Dr. Naimi is a member of the Federal National Council and chairman of the Defense, Interior and Foreign Affairs Committees.

During the condolence visit, Dr. Naimi emphasized that the UAE would continue to champion coexistence, and would never allow extremists to separate the UAE and Israel.

"The state and its citizens are committed today more than ever to the values ​​of openness and peace, and will increase their efforts to ensure that Rabbi Zvi's legacy continues and that all communities live in harmony in the United Arab Emirates," he added.

"Just to understand the event," Kan News Arab Affairs Correspondent Roee Kais clarified the unusal visit, "An Emirati official came especially to the Kogan family's Shiva, stayed in Israel for less than an hour and returned to his country."

רק כדי להבין את האירוע: הבכיר האמירותי הגיע במיוחד לשבעה של משפחת קוגן, שהה בישראל פחות משעה וחזר לארצו. גם שגרירה היוצא של ישראל באיחוד האמירויות, אמיר חייק, נכח @HayekAmir https://t.co/foXyOucBTx pic.twitter.com/5ybdTfT4fB

— roi kais • روعي كايس • רועי קייס (@kaisos1987) November 29, 2024

12:55 - 8 wounded, 3 seriously, in bus shooting attack in Samaria

Eight Israelis were wounded, including three who are in critical condition, in a shooting attack at a bus targeting a bus near Gitti Junction in Samaria, close to the town of Ariel.

Magen David Adom paramedics provided first aid treatment and evacuated the wounded to Beilinson Hospital in Petah Tikva. The MDA reported that there were four people sustained gunshot wounds, with three in serious and one in moderate condition. In addition, four people were lightly wounded by glass shards.

According to Army Radio, a terrorist opened fire at a civilian bus at the Gitti Avishar Junction. He was immediately eliminated by Israeli soldiers.

Shortly after the incident, the IDF denied initial reports that a second terrorist had escaped, confirming that the attack was carried out by a lone terrorist.

11:35 - IDF general warns that its troops will “aggressively” enforce the ceasefire

After several ceasefire violations on Thursday, the chief of the IDF Northern Command, Maj.-Gen. Ori Gordin warned that the IDF will “aggressively” enforce the ceasefire with Hezbollah.

Speaking during an assessment in southern Lebanon yesterday, Gordin said, “We have set Hezbollah back many years and this significant achievement, the severe damage to Hezbollah allows a completely different freedom to make decisions and manage this campaign going forward.”

“The political echelon agreed on a ceasefire arrangement with Lebanon, and our job is to enable it and enforce it. We will enforce it aggressively, under the conditions we set, this is what will be realized, and therefore we do not intend for Hezbollah to return to these areas, we intend for this entire area to be clear of capabilities and certainly of Hezbollah’s weapons, and that is our role."

He stressed: “If they make a mistake, it will be a big mistake, and we are prepared to return to combat… We are now in enforcement mode, but we can, in a very short time, give the opposite order and go back in."

11:04 - IDF chief Halevi hints he could resign after Oct 7 investigations are completed

IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Herzi Halevi hinted that he may resign from his position at the end of the ongoing IDF investigations into the failures of Oct. 7, which led to the Hamas invasion and massacre of southern Israeli border communities with Gaza.

"At the end of the investigation, we will also make personal decisions and exercise responsibility for the commanders – starting from me and down."

"I have no intention of leaving out personal decisions as the picture becomes clearer to us," Halevi wrote in a letter to the commanders of the IDF. He detailed the army's appointment process, which sparked controversy after new Defense Minister Israel Katz refused to approve two of his proposed appointments.

07:20 - IDF reiterates: Lebanese civilians are forbidden from approaching IDF positions in southern Lebanon

IDF Arabic Spokesman Col. Avichay Adraee re-published the map of the restricted areas in southern Lebanon that Lebanese civilians are currently prohibited from entering.

"The IDF does not intend to target you and therefore you are prohibited at this stage from returning to your homes from this line south until further notice. Anyone who moves south of this line – puts himself in danger," Adraee wrote on 𝕏, after several incidents where the IDF opened fire on people approaching its positions on Thursday.

On Friday morning, Adraee also listed dozens of villages within the restricted area.

🔴بيان #عاجل إلى سكان #لبنان

⭕️حتى إشعار آخر يحظر عليكم الانتقال جنوبًا إلى خط القرى التالية ومحيطها: شبعا، الهبارية، مرجعيون، أرنون، يحمر، القنطرة، شقرا، برعشيت، ياطر، المنصوري

⭕️جيش الدفاع لا ينوي استهدافكم ولذلك يحظر عليكم في هذه المرحلة العودة إلى بيوتكم من هذا الخط جنوبًا… pic.twitter.com/84UdCZDRxs

— افيخاي ادرعي (@AvichayAdraee) November 29, 2024