image Photo: IDF, Flash90

Soldier’s Killer dies amid fresh attack

Palestinian terrorist Udai Tamimi murdered 18-year-old IDF Border Police Sgt. Noa Lazar on 8 October.

By Erin Viner

The Palestinian gunman was carrying out another shooting in Ma’ale Adumim on the outskirts of Jerusalem last night. He opened fire at a security checkpoint at the entrance to the city, wounding a 24-year-old guard. Another security guard returned fire at the assailant, killing him.

A pistol and grenade was discovered on the body of the terrorist, who was a resident of east Jerusalem.

A volunteer paramedic Akiva Skolnick with the United Hatzalah in Israel emergency medical services organization was among first responders at the scene. In a message obtained by TV7 immediately after the incident, he said that the security guard “miraculously” sustained only an injury to one hand. After receiving on site treatment, he was evacuated by ambulance to the Shaare Zedek Medical Center in Jerusalem “in light condition and fully conscious.”

Police and IDF forces set up roadblocks and conducted manhunts in the vicinity to search for additional terrorists or possible accomplices.

Security guard Vyacheslav (Daniel) Golev, 23, was murdered in a similar shooting attack at the entrance to the city of Ariel last May, while protecting his fiancé  who worked alongside him. Qarawat Bani Hassan residents Youssef Sameeh Assi, 20, and Yahya Marei, 19, were captured following a 20-hour search.

Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid commended the IDF, the Israel Security Agency (ISA, Shin Bet), Israel Police and the Border Police forces “for neutralizing the terrorist Udai Tamimi as he attempted to carry out another attack, after the attack he carried out at the Shuafat Checkpoint in which Sgt. Noa Lazar of blessed memory was killed.”

Underscoring that, “We will not rest until we apprehend every terrorist who attacks Israeli citizens and IDF soldiers. We will not hesitate to take strong action against terrorism,” Prime Minister Lapid also expressed best wishes on behalf of the State for a swift recovery to the security guard.”

Israeli security forces have been on high alert after Sgt. Lazar’s killing, followed two days later by the fatal shooting of IDF Staff Sergeant Ido Baruch on 10 October near the Jewish community of Shavei Shomron between Nablus and Jenin.. A manhunt remains ongoing for the terrorist who killed Baruch. A civilian security guard injured in the same attack that killed Sgt. Lazar remains hospitalized.

Defense Minister Benny Gantz today emphasized the critical role performed by the security establishment to protect the nation’s citizens, while vowing to intensify operational activities to eliminate terrorists and their enablers.

IDF, ISA (Shin Bet) and Border Police Special Operations forces  as part of the ongoing Operation Waves Breaker. Seven suspected terror operatives were apprehended, and there were no reported injuries among the Israeli forces.

IDF,  Israel Security Agency (ISA, Shin Bet) and Border Police Special Operations forces conducted counterterrorism activity in the West Bank districts of Judea and Samaria overnight as part of the half-year-long Operation Waves Breaker launched by Jerusalem’s defense establishment to root-out terror elements following a deadly surge of attacks against Israelis that killed 19 people between March and May 2022.