Tzeela Gez, 30, was tragically shot and killed in the West Bank, prompting swift military action as reactions unfold from Israeli officials and armed groups.
Pregnant Woman Killed in West Bank Shooting: A Tragic Development Amid Rising Violence
Pregnant Woman Killed in West Bank Shooting: A Tragic Development Amid Rising Violence
Israeli authorities report a shocking terrorist attack resulting in the death of a pregnant woman while she was en route to the hospital with her husband.
A pregnant Israeli woman has lost her life in a harrowing shooting incident in the northern region of the occupied West Bank, which Israeli officials are labeling a terrorist attack. Tzeela Gez, aged 30, was traveling to the hospital with her husband Hananel for the delivery of their child when their vehicle came under gunfire near their residence in the settlement of Bruchin on Wednesday evening. Following the attack, Mrs. Gez sustained critical injuries, while her husband suffered light wounds.
Emergency medical teams performed a caesarean section, successfully delivering the baby, who is reported to be in serious but stable condition; however, they were unable to save the mother. The Israeli military is actively pursuing the assailant and has reportedly cordoned off the nearby Palestinian village of Bruqin.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed his deep shock regarding the incident and described it as a despicable act against life, drawing a stark contrast between civilians and terrorists. In response to the attack, Defence Minister Israel Katz directed military efforts to identify those behind the shooting and to retaliate forcefully. While no Palestinian militant groups have claimed responsibility, Hamas praised the attack, framing it as a righteous reaction to Israel's ongoing military operations in Gaza and the West Bank.
The rise in violence in the region has intensified since the outbreak of war in Gaza, related to Hamas's attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023. Israeli settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, which number around 160 and house approximately 700,000 Jewish residents, are viewed as illegal by most of the international community, a stance supported by a recent advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice, despite Israel's disagreement.
