After a two-month manhunt, security forces overnight Wednesday eliminated Ashraf Na'alwa, the terrorist who carried out the shooting attack in the Barkan industrial zone on October 7, in which Ziv Hajbi and Kim Levengrond-Yehezkel were murdered.
The terrorist was killed in Shechem (Nablus) during a joint operation of the Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet), the IDF and the Israel Police.
According to the Shin Bet, Na'alwa was armed when the forces arrived at his hideout. During an attempt to arrest, an exchange of gunfire ensued, killing the terrorist.
The security forces had arrived at the hideout of the terrorist at the end of a long and arduous chase, which included interrogations of several suspects who assisted or were aware of Na'alwa's activities. Some of those detained have been put on trial. Their interrogation revealed that Na'alwa had planned to carry out another attack, which was prevented when he was located.
Last week, the Supreme Court rejected the petition filed by relatives of the terrorist and approved the demolition order against the house of the terrorist.
The demolition applies only to the basement of the home.
Two weeks ago, Na’alwa’s father was indicted by an IDF military court for failing to prevent the massacre.
The father is facing charges of obstruction of justice and failing to prevent a crime. According to the indictment, he knew that his son was planning to commit an attack and witnessed him training with firearms yet did not inform authorities.
Na’alwa's mother and brother were indicted earlier in November. According to the indictment, the duo knew about Na'alwa's plans to commit a massacre yet did not inform the authorities.
Na’alwa’s elimination comes just hours after security forces eliminated Salah Omar Salah Barghouti, one of the terrorists who carried out Sunday’s attack at the Ofra junction.
Barghouti was killed while trying to resist arrest. Several other terrorists were arrested and transferred for questioning.