A shooting attack took place near Havat Gilad last Friday morning after Arabs attacked Israeli hikers near the village of Tal, took a weapon from a security guard, and opened fire at Israelis.
Benayahu Melet, 32 and a resident of Chavat Gilad, and Yuval Ezra, 27 of Herzliya, have been named as the fatally shot victims of this terror attack. They rushed to save the hikers.
Magen David Adom (MDA) and United Hatzalah said that four people were injured in the attack. MDA paramedics declared a man in his 30s dead at the scene and evacuated two other shooting victims by helicopter, together with an IDF medical team. A man in his 20s was listed in serious condition, and a man in his 20s was in moderate condition.
According to activist Elisha Yered, the hikers’ testimonies indicated the sheikh of the village of Tal, where the attackers came from, was the one who took the weapon and carried out the shooting.
MK Zvi Sukkot proclaimed, “Turn the village of Tal into a pile of ruins. This serious attack is a wake-up call for the security system to change its approach in dealing with terrorism in Judea and Samaria. When the enemy raises its head, we cannot settle for a limited response. We must make them pay a heavy price through a broad operation to eliminate terrorist infrastructure and take control of additional areas in Judea and Samaria.”
AFSI Insight
The horrific terrorist attack near Chavat Gilad, in which two Israelis were murdered, comes on the heels of the devastating fires that recently destroyed homes and upended lives in this resilient community. For the people of Chavat Gilad, there has been little time to recover from one tragedy before another has struck.
AFSI extends its deepest condolences to the families of the victims and embraces our dear friends in Chavat Gilad, especially those who are still struggling to rebuild after the fires. The courage and determination of this community have inspired us for many years, and we know that even in the face of unimaginable loss, they will remain steadfast.
This latest attack is another painful reminder that the communities of Judea and Samaria live under the constant threat of terrorism simply because Jews choose to live in their ancestral homeland. Chavat Gilad has repeatedly paid a heavy price—including the 2018 murder of Rabbi Raziel Shevach—and yet its residents continue to build, rebuild, and strengthen their community.
AFSI stands in unwavering solidarity with the people of Chavat Gilad. We pray for the recovery of the wounded, comfort for the bereaved, and strength for every family facing these difficult days. The appropriate response to terror is not retreat, but renewed resolve: to protect Israel’s heartland, support its pioneers, and ensure that Jewish life in Judea and Samaria continues to flourish despite those who seek to destroy it.
Source:
Shooting Attack Near Havat Gilad, Two Killed, by David Israel/The Jewish Edition, July 24, 2026