Israeli diplomat's son critically injured in West Bank vehicle attack
A reserve soldier serving at a West Bank checkpoint was seriously wounded in a ramming incident that left the driver dead, occurring a day before Israel's prime minister is set to speak at the United Nations.
A reserve soldier who was manning a checkpoint near the settlement of Beit Horon was critically injured after a vehicle rammed into his position in the occupied West Bank on Wednesday afternoon. He was transported to a hospital in Jerusalem for treatment. The driver, identified as 29-year-old Mahmoud Muhammad Mahmoud Suleiman of the nearby village of Beit Ur al-Tahta, was shot and killed at the scene, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health.
The injured soldier is the son of Yechiel Leiter, Israel's ambassador to the United States. In a social-media post, Leiter expressed hope for his son's recovery, citing personal faith.
Hamas issued a statement describing the attack as a "natural response" to Israeli actions in the West Bank and Jerusalem and called for increased resistance, though it did not claim responsibility for the incident.
The incident follows a series of recent violent episodes in the area, including a shooting on the eve of Yom Kippur that left a settler dead. Israeli officials have highlighted ongoing security operations in the West Bank, with the defense establishment stating that forces remain on high alert.
Israel's national security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, has called for the death penalty under a new law covering terrorism and politically motivated murders. Defense Minister Israel Katz has previously noted a decline in terrorist activity in the territory and pledged continued measures to prevent future attacks.