Terror shooting near Bethlehem kills 10-year-old boy, injures 3 others

A shooting in Judea , near the Palestinian town of al-Khader, claimed the life of a 10-year-old Israeli boy and left at least three others injured after a Palestinian terrorist opened fire on an Israeli bus. 

The boy, Yehoshua Aharon Tuvia Simha from Beitar Illit, was evacuated to Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital near Jerusalem, in critical condition. After several hours of intensive efforts, doctors were unable to save him and pronounced him dead.

Three other passengers on the bus were moderately or lightly injured and taken to a hospital for treatment.  

The Israeli municipal bus was close to the Tunnel 60 Checkpoint near al-Khader when a Palestinian gunman opened fire on the bus, hitting it at least 22 times. 

Shortly after the attack, IDF troops set up roadblocks around the town of Husan and the city of Bethlehem, where the gunman was believed to have fled. The IDF and Shin Bet domestic intelligence deployed a special field investigation team as part of the manhunt for the shooter. 

Videos showed security forces surrounding the bus at the checkpoint and passengers fleeing to safety. 

"כולם להוריד את הראש": תיעוד הרגעים לאחר פיגוע הירי @ItayBlumental https://t.co/Dr7DMPorOw pic.twitter.com/HPSvWSzfN6

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Magen David Adom paramedic Elhai Sofer and senior MDA medic Yaakov Greenwald told Walla news, “We arrived quickly at the scene and saw the bus with passengers. We conducted a quick search and found a 10-year-old child with gunshot wounds to his upper body. We provided him with life-saving medical treatment and evacuated him in an MDA intensive care ambulance to Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital while continuing treatment as we fought to save his life.” 

The EMS crew also treated a woman, around 40 years old, who suffered gunshot wounds to her limbs. 

“She was fully conscious, her condition was assessed as moderate, and she was evacuated to Sha'are Zedek Hospital,” the medics said. 

Two other individuals were evacuated from the scene with injuries from broken glass. 

Following the announcement of the boy's death, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich posted a message on 𝕏 stating: “The security forces will, with God's help, complete the manhunt and settle accounts with the human scum behind this terrible attack. We will also eradicate terror in Judea and Samaria with determination and aggression, just like Hamas, Hezbollah and Syria.“ 

President Isaac Herzog wrote a message of condolence on 𝕏. 

"The boy Yehoshua Aharon Tovia Simcha the 14th, a 10-year-old boy, returned with his family from a family celebration and was murdered in an attack by a criminal last night in Gush Etzion. I wish to console and hug his family and friends at a very painful and sad moment for the people of Israel," he wrote. Herzog added: "I trust the security forces to bring about the capture of the despicable terrorist.” 

National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir also posted a message on 𝕏,

“I am pained by the murder of the holy child Yehoshua Aharon Tuvia Simcha and I send my condolences to his family." The minister added: "I reiterate my constant demand to set up checkpoints on the roads of Judea and Samaria and to allow safe roads for Palestian Authority (PA) residents.” 

He reiterated his claim that "the right to life of Israeli citizens overrides the freedom of movement of PA residents.” 

As the article was being published, security forces announced the arrest of the terrorist, identified as Izz al-Din Maluh, who turned himself in near the settlement of Efrat. 

The IDF announced: "After a joint manhunt by IDF, police and Shin Bet forces, which included a military encirclement of Bethlehem and the application of military pressure in the area, the terrorist who carried out the shooting attack in the area of the Al-Hader Junction in the Etzion Brigade turned himself in to the security forces.” 

According to reports in Hebrew media, the terrorist attempted to turn himself in to Palestinian Authority security forces, who confiscated his weapon but refused to arrest him.