Staff Sergeant Geri Gideon Hanghal, 24, from Nof HaGalil, who served in the 90th Battalion ("Nahshon") of the Kfir Brigade, was killed in a ramming attack earlier today at the Giv'at Asaf Junction in the Binyamin region. The terrorist responsible for the attack has been identified as Hail Deif Allah, 58, from the village of Rafat near Ramallah, Israel national news reveals.
The IDF and Israeli Border Police conducted operations in Rafat to assess the residence of the attacker for potential demolition. Following the attack, a truck driver rammed into and critically injured a 20-year-old man at a bus stop in the Binyamin region, and IDF forces, along with an armed civilian, neutralized the terrorist.
The IDF confirmed that the terrorist was neutralized at the scene and was later evacuated to Hadassah Mount Scopus Medical Center in Jerusalem in serious condition. The suspicion that the truck was rigged with explosives was later ruled out.
At the scene, Yossi Amar, a United Hatzalah volunteer EMT, reported that he arrived shortly after hearing gunshots and found a truck involved in the incident. He treated one critically injured person and confirmed that the terrorist had been neutralized.
Deputy Fireman Officer Roni Yaakov stated that firefighters were on-site to ensure the safety of the forces and were prepared for any additional scenarios. Channel 12 News identified the terrorist as Haeel Issa Abed Algaber Deif Allah from Rafat.
The Hamas terror group praised the attack, describing it as a "natural consequence of Israeli actions in Gaza and the West Bank," and claimed that such resistance actions demonstrate their ability to respond to Israeli plans.