Two Palestinian Authority Arab teens were killed Wednesday when a group attacked an Israeli army post in Samaria (Shomron). Amer Nassar, 17 and Najo Bilbisi,18, were both residents of the PA Arab village of Anbata.
The two hurled deadly firebombs (Molotov cocktails) at the IDF post, a military source said in a statement. Bilbisi’s body was only discovered Thursday morning, however, the IDF said.
A third attacker reportedly sustained a hand wound in the incident, which took place near the Jewish community of Einav. PA sources said the wounded man was admitted to a Tulkarem hospital.
Israeli soldiers from the Netzach Yehuda Brigade immediately opened fire in response to the attack – an action permitted under rules of engagement only when a concrete threat is identified.
The IDF Spokesperson’s Unit said the incident is under investigation, including to discover how it was possible the two attackers were able to reach the post, and whether there was a chance to control the situation without opening fire.
The incident comes as part of a rise in the number of terrror attacks being perpetrated against Israeli civilians and soldiers in Judea and Samaria.
A wave of rioting began this week following the death of 64-year-old terrorist prison inmate Maissara Abu Hamdiyeh, who succumbed to cancer on Tuesday at Soroka Medical Center in Be’er Sheva.
Despite findings from an autopsy carried out at the Abu Kabir Forensic Institute that showed Hamdiyeh died of cancer and that no foul play was involved, Palestinian Authority Arabs launched a wave of riots across the regions, egged on by PA leaders who blamed Israel for Hamdiyeh's death regardless of the medical findings.