IDF Soldier Injured in Car-Ramming Attack in West Bank

An Israel Defense Forces (IDF) soldier was lightly injured in a car-ramming attack on Wednesday evening near the central West Bank town of Dayr Qadis, the military reported.

The attack occurred as a Palestinian assailant drove his vehicle directly into a group of IDF troops operating in the area.

According to the IDF, the suspect accelerated toward the soldiers before attempting to flee when confronted. In response, the troops opened fire, striking the assailant, who was later reported to be in serious condition by first responders.

One female soldier was injured in the attack, though her injuries were described as minor. She was treated at the scene and did not require hospitalization, the IDF stated. However, the military did not specify the exact moment the soldier was struck.

The attack comes amid an ongoing security crackdown by Israeli forces in the West Bank, following months of heightened tensions and violence in the region.

The IDF has carried out large-scale operations aimed at targeting terror cells and arresting individuals suspected of planning or executing attacks against Israeli citizens and soldiers.

On Tuesday, the Shin Bet, Israel’s internal security service, released its annual report on operations in 2024, revealing that the agency had thwarted over 1,000 terror attacks in the West Bank and Jerusalem.

This included 689 planned shootings, 326 explosive device plots, 13 stabbings, nine car-rammings, two suicide bombings, and one kidnapping.

Despite these efforts, not all attacks were successfully prevented. Last week, a fatal stabbing took place in Herzliya, where 83-year-old Ludmila Lipovsky, a Holocaust survivor, was murdered.

The assailant, a 28-year-old Palestinian from the West Bank, had previously served as a Shin Bet informant. He had been transferred to Israel after his cover was compromised, according to the security agency.

The Shin Bet’s report for 2024 noted a 40% decrease in terror attacks in the West Bank and Jerusalem compared to 2023, which saw a record number of incidents.

This year’s decline follows Israel’s extensive security measures, which include restricting Palestinian access to Israel and launching counterterrorism operations that have led to the arrest of over 6,000 Palestinians, including more than 2,350 individuals affiliated with Hamas.

The ongoing violence has taken a heavy toll. Over 835 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank since the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel, according to the Palestinian Authority health ministry.

The majority of these deaths occurred in clashes with Israeli troops, during military operations, or while engaging in terrorist activities.

The recent months have also seen the death of 43 individuals, including Israeli security personnel, as a result of terror attacks in both Israel and the West Bank.

Six additional members of the security forces were killed in direct confrontations with terror operatives.

The IDF and Shin Bet continue their efforts to maintain security in the region, but with the persistent threat of terrorism and ongoing political instability, it remains unclear when peace will be restored to the West Bank.