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The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced on Friday morning that they have mapped the homes of two terrorists implicated in the deadly attack last Wednesday that claimed the life of pregnant woman Tzeela Gez.
IDF engineering units and soldiers from the Ephraim Brigade carried out operations in the West Bank village of Burkin, targeting the residences of Maher Samara and Jamil Samara.
These two individuals are suspected of aiding the main assailant, Na’al Samara, in orchestrating the shooting attack that resulted in Gez’s death.
The mapping of the terrorists’ homes comes as a preliminary step in preparation for their potential demolition, a measure often used by Israeli authorities to deter future terror activities.
Na’al Samara was killed in Burkin on Saturday after IDF forces located him following a broader security operation that included arrests of several suspects linked to the attack.
The IDF reported that during the operation, Samara charged at soldiers while carrying a booby-trapped bag. The immediate threat forced troops to neutralize him.
Inside the bag, authorities found an M16 rifle and several other weapons, indicating plans for further attacks.
Investigations jointly conducted by the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency), the IDF, and the Israel Police revealed that Na’al Samara was previously imprisoned for his affiliation with Hamas and that the terror cell he belonged to was responsible for multiple attacks, including a shooting in Ariel in March 2025.
The fatal attack unfolded on Route 446 near the Peduel junction in the Binyamin region of the West Bank. Tzeela Gez and her husband, Hannael, were ambushed while he was driving her to the hospital to give birth.
Gez was severely wounded in the shooting and was rushed to Rabin Medical Center-Beilinson Campus in Petah Tikva, where doctors fought to save her unborn child. Tragically, she succumbed to her injuries on Thursday.
Hannael Gez, 40, sustained light wounds and was discharged from the hospital on Thursday morning. The attack has sent shockwaves through the local community, highlighting the ongoing security challenges faced in the region.
Israeli officials have condemned the violence and reiterated their commitment to combatting terror through a combination of intelligence, military operations, and legal measures.
The Ephraim Brigade’s recent actions to map the homes of Maher and Jamil Samara reflect a strategic effort to disrupt terror networks by targeting their infrastructure. Home demolitions, although controversial, have been a consistent policy by Israeli forces aimed at deterring militant activity.
The IDF emphasized that this operation is part of a wider campaign to prevent further terror attacks and to bring those responsible to justice. The families of victims like Tzeela Gez continue to call for stronger security measures and justice for the lives lost.
As investigations continue, authorities remain on high alert across the West Bank, conducting intelligence-driven operations to dismantle terror cells and ensure the safety of Israeli civilians.
The tragic death of Tzeela Gez, who was pregnant at the time of the attack, underscores the human toll of the ongoing conflict and the urgency for lasting solutions to violence in the region.