Footage shows chaotic moments after attack on soldiers’ bus in Jordan Valley
Gunfire from soldiers returning fire at attackers heard in new video; IDF chief says 1,500 wanted Palestinians arrested in nightly raids after wave of attacks earlier this year
Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian is The Times of Israel's military correspondent
Footage published Monday showed the moments after a shooting attack against a bus carrying soldiers in the Jordan Valley the day before.
The video, first published by the Kan public broadcaster, showed the wounded civilian bus driver lying on the floor of the bus and an armed soldier firing back at the Palestinian attackers.
One of the soldiers in the video can be seen with blood pouring down his face. He was one of six soldiers hurt in the attack.
Two of the gunmen were captured shortly after the incident, as their car caught fire, following an attempt to torch the bus, and a third escaped, according to the Israel Defense Forces.
The footage was released as security forces continued an intensive manhunt for an alleged third member of the cell who committed the attack
The shooting attack came during a time of rising violence in the West Bank. In a separate attack Sunday, four soldiers were hurt when Palestinians opened fire at a military post in the central West Bank.
צרורות ירי וצרחות: התיעוד הדרמטי מתוך האוטובוס בזמן הפיגוע בבקעה | בלעדי@rubih67 pic.twitter.com/FnIKV1YZ3s
— כאן חדשות (@kann_news) September 5, 2022
Another video circulated on social media Monday showed the heavily damaged windscreen and blood over the floor and seats.
Tensions have escalated as Israeli security forces stepped up arrest raids in an operation launched following a deadly wave of terror attacks that left 19 people dead earlier this year.
IDF chief of staff Aviv Kohavi said Monday that troops have arrested more than 1,500 Palestinians in the near-nightly raids.
“As part of the operation so far, about 1,500 wanted persons have been arrested and hundreds of terror attacks have been thwarted,” Kohavi said at a military conference, in remarks provided by the IDF.
“Part of the increase in terrorism stems from the helplessness of the Palestinian Authority security forces, leading to a lack of governance in certain areas of Judea and Samaria, and these are fertile grounds for terrorism,” Kohavi said, referring to the West Bank by its biblical name.
“As always, even in the face of this development, our test is protecting the citizens of Israel, and our mission is to thwart terrorism. We will reach every city, neighborhood, alley, house or basement for that purpose,” he said. “Our activity will continue and we are prepared to intensify it as needed.”
