Israeli soldier killed and five injured in shooting spree across three central communities

An Arab Israeli gunman carried out a shooting spree on Sunday across three communities north of Tel Aviv, killing Master Sgt. (res.) Haim Kalomiti, 55, a reservist from Tzur Natan, and injuring five civilians. The attacks began around 10:30 a.m. at a gas station near Kochav Ya’ir, continued to a security post in Tzur Yitzhak, and then to a guard post and a vehicle outside Tzur Natan, where Kalomiti was shot.

Security forces engaged the shooter near a quarry on the outskirts of Tayibe at about 11:03 a.m., killing him. Police later arrested a second man from Tayibe who was suspected of involvement after he reportedly admitted participation while seeking shelter. The suspect attempted to stab officers with a glass bottle but was subdued without injury.

The Israeli Defense Forces sealed off several nearby West Bank villages and a crossing into Israel following the incident. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was briefed on the situation.

"Unfortunately, the changes in the security elements over the past two years are relatively marginal. We got some kind of funding from the army, but it’s a drop in the bucket compared to what is needed here, and the proof is what happened today," said Hila Hakmon, head of the Kochav Ya’ir local council.

"I don’t know of an event like this in the past 40 years. I heard the sound of sub‑machine guns, poked my head out of the window and immediately heard there was an incident that began in Kochav Ya’ir. I’m not afraid — I have plenty of friends in Tayibe and Tira, neighbors. I live with them in peace," said Moshe, a longtime resident of the area.

Medical services treated two men in their 30s shot at the gas station, a 31‑year‑old man and a 61‑year‑old woman injured at Tzur Yitzhak, and two men wounded outside Tzur Natan, one of whom later died.

The shooter, identified by authorities as Omar Yassin, a resident of Tayibe in his 20s, was armed with a makeshift sub‑machine gun and used a vehicle with Israeli licence plates that was traveling illegally. After the attacks, he briefly fired at the entrance of the nearby settlement of Sal’it before fleeing.

An unnamed relative of the deceased shooter reported that security forces entered their home in Tayibe, detained family members and conducted questioning.