Violent clashes broke out in Ramallah between the Israeli army and protesters who tried to prevent the forces from advancing in different areas after they stormed into the city wanting to confiscate camera recordings of several shops in search of gunmen who shot several Israelis near a settlement.
Israel is on the lookout for a car that fired at settlers near Ramallah injuring 7, one of which is in a serious condition.
Several Palestinians were injured during the clashes near the house of President Mahmoud Abbas at the northern entrance.
For several hours, the Israeli army searched for videos and managed to seize the security camera footage in the streets, especially in institutions, homes and shops. The army also seized recordings from the official Palestinian news agency Wafa and other shops in al-Irsal street and the villages of Abu Qash and Sarda in the north.
Wafa reported that dozens of heavily armed Israeli soldiers raided its news offices in Ramallah on Monday and fired teargas inside the building.
“The soldiers broke into the receivers' room and seized video tapes of the surveillance cameras after forcing the staff to stay in one room,” stated Wafa, adding that the forces fired teargas inside the building causing suffocation and difficulty in breathing among the journalists who were inside the building.
Late night Sunday, Palestinians in a white car quickly passed by the bus stop in Ofra settlement and shot at settlers before it sped away as soldiers shot at their vehicle but failed to halt its flight. A 21-year-old pregnant woman was injured in the drive by and later delivered the baby via a Cesarean section in the hospital.
Israeli army issued a statement confirming the search for gunmen was ongoing, with security forces and border police concentrating their efforts around a number of Israeli settlements in the West Bank.
The army indicated that the group of Israeli settlers were standing at the bus station when "shots were fired from a passing Palestinian vehicle."
Israel closed roads, erected barriers and imposed a cordon around Ramallah in search of the attackers.
"Efforts are now concentrated on the intelligence track," a military spokesman said, adding that "efforts will continue until they are arrested."
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed early Monday that Israeli forces would not rest until they catch the terrorists behind the shooting attack that critically wounded a young pregnant Israeli woman and six others.
“We will not rest until we find these murderous criminals,” warned Netanyahu.
Israeli Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked called on the Prime Minister for the legalization of the Ofra settlement.
Later, Jewish Home party issued a similar appeal calling for the immediate regulation of the settlement's status. The party issued a statement calling on Netanyahu “to immediately regulate the settlement of Ofra and grant it the status of a regular town in our country.”
The right-wing religious faction said that the proper response to such terror attacks was “to strengthen settlements.”
Ofra settlement was established in 1975 on private Palestinian land. The new attack raised Israeli fears of a gradual return of similar operations to the West Bank.
Despite US’ request, the Palestinian Authority did not issue a statement commenting on the operation. Meanwhile, US Special Representative for International Negotiations, Jason Greenblatt, condemned Sunday the attack.
“Absolutely Disgusting – Terrorists attack a group of Israelis celebrating Hanukkah. My prayers and thoughts are with the victims and their families. President Abbas, will you condemn the act this time??” he tweeted.
Palestinian presidency usually does not comment on operations targeting settlers in the West Bank but condemns any other operations in Israel.
Both Hamas and Islamic Jihad issued statements praising the operation describing it as “heroic”.
Hamas said the operation “was in response to ongoing attacks carried out against our people. Despite all the attempts to uproot the resistance to the occupation, the action indicates that resistance in the West Bank is still alive and beating.”
Hamas spokesman noted that the shooting “is a message that our people will continue its struggle and uprising until it reclaims all of its stolen rights.”
Jihad movement stated that the “courageous” operation is a message to the whole world that the legitimate resistance will not stopped. It called on the Arab and Islamic countries and forces in the nation to support the resistance and Palestinian cause.
