Tragedy struck on Sunday in the occupied West Bank as three Israeli police officers lost their lives in a shooting incident. The victims, a man and a woman in their 30s, were fatally shot, while a third individual, a man around 50 years old, was critically injured and later succumbed to his injuries at the hospital.
One of the fallen officers has been identified as Roni Shakuri, whose daughter, also a police officer, tragically lost her life in a previous attack by Hamas on October 7 in southern Israel.
The shooting took place as the officers were traveling along a highway near Tarqumiyah when they were targeted by gunfire from a passing vehicle. The Israeli military reported that the attackers, described as 'terrorists,' fled the scene after the incident, prompting a swift response from security forces.
While no group has officially claimed responsibility for the attack, Hamas released a statement referring to it as a 'heroic' operation and a response to what they termed as 'heinous massacres and genocide in the Gaza Strip and Zionist crimes in the West Bank and occupied Jerusalem.'
The Israeli police and IDF forces immediately launched extensive search operations in pursuit of the perpetrators, who managed to escape the area. The incident has once again highlighted the ongoing tensions and violence in the region, underscoring the challenges faced by security forces in maintaining peace and order.
As investigations continue into the tragic shooting, the families and colleagues of the fallen officers mourn their loss, while the authorities work tirelessly to ensure that justice is served and those responsible are held accountable for their actions.
