On January 6, 2025, three Israelis lost their lives in a shooting attack near the Palestinian village of Al-Funduq, located in the norantheast West Bank. The incident involved gunfire directed at two cars and a bus on Route 55, which runs alongside the Jewish settlement of Kedumim. According to Israel's Magen David Adom (MDA), the attack resulted in three fatalities and left eight others injured, including the bus driver, who was in critical condition (source: CNN).

The deceased were identified as two elderly women, Aliza Reiss and Rachel Cohen, both from Kedumim, and Yaakov Winkelstein, a police investigator from Ariel. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed his outrage, vowing to pursue the assailants and ensure they “pay a heavy price.” He stated on X, "No one will get away," emphasizing a commitment to justice for both the victims and their families (source: Reuters).

The violence in the region has escalated dramatically following the Hamas assault on Israel on October 7, 2023, which resulted in significant casualties and a declared war from Israel on Hamas. As reported, over 45,000 Palestinians have died in Gaza since the conflict began, alongside parallel tensions in the West Bank where more than 500 Palestinian civilians were killed throughout 2024. The situation has been exacerbated by settlements and military actions, which have seen an increase in violence on both sides.

Following the shooting, Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) Chief Herzi Halevi promised to intensify operations against what he deemed terrorism in the region. “For the terrorists who carried out this attack, the clock is ticking. We will make this route safer,” he stated, underscoring Israel's determination to respond decisively (source: CNN).

The Israeli military has since launched a search operation, establishing a cordon around nearby Palestinian villages to apprehend the suspects believed to have fled in the aftermath of the attack. The event has reignited discussions regarding the significant intercommunal violence affecting the West Bank, where attacks on both Palestinian communities and Israelis have surged (source: Reuters).

As tensions rise, the situation remains precarious, with various factions on both sides calling for unity and retaliation, heightening fears of an extended period of violence.