A terrorist attack in Israel this evening has left a 12-year-old boy in critical condition and four others injured when gunfire was directed at a bus close to the Al-Khader Junction in Gush Etzion.
The attacker managed to escape, prompting a manhunt by the IDF. Military forces have cordoned off Bais Lechem and the nearby village of Husan.
The bus, which was traveling from Gush Etzion to Yerushalayim, proceeded to the Tunnels Checkpoint, where emergency responders treated the wounded. The IDF Spokesperson’s Unit stated, “Following the initial report, a terrorist opened fire at an Israeli civilian bus in the area of the Al-Khader Junction. As a result of the attack, a number of civilians were injured and are currently receiving medical treatment.”
The spokesperson added, “Israeli security forces are pursuing the terrorist, setting up roadblocks and encircling the area of Bais Lechem.”
Three individuals were transported to Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital in Yerushalayim following the attack. These included the critically wounded 12-year-old boy, a 24-year-old man in stable condition, and a 55-year-old man who sustained light injuries from shrapnel. Meanwhile, two more victims were taken to Shaare Tzedek Hospital: a 40-year-old woman with moderate injuries and a 20-year-old man whose condition ranged from moderate to serious.
According to a statement from Magen David Adom (MDA), “MDA paramedics are providing medical treatment and evacuating two injured individuals to Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital: a 12-year-old boy in serious condition with gunshot wounds and a 40-year-old woman in mild condition with gunshot wounds. Two additional individuals in light condition were also evacuated from the scene.”
MDA paramedics Elhai Sofer and Senior EMT Yaakov Greenwald shared their experience: “We arrived quickly at the scene and saw the bus with passengers. We conducted a quick search and found a 12-year-old boy with gunshot wounds to his upper body. We provided life-saving treatment and evacuated him in MDA’s mobile intensive care unit to Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital while continuing treatment and fighting for his life. A 40-year-old female suffered gunshot wounds to her limbs. She was fully conscious, in moderate condition, and was evacuated to Shaare Zedek Hospital. Two other injured people, in mild condition from glass shards, were evacuated from the scene. Additional MDA teams are now providing medical care to several people suffering anxiety symptoms.”
{Matzav.com Israel}