A Palestinian man shot and killed two Israeli settlers on highway 60 near Huwara, Nablus with an M-16 rifle on the afternoon of 26 February.

According to reports, the shooter was wearing a t-shirt with the insignia of the Palestinian Lions’ Den resistance group and remains on the run.

Israeli Channel 12 reported that the man intercepted the settlers’ vehicle by ramming into it, got out and shot both of them, then escaped by foot.

The victims were said to be residents of the nearby and illegal Har Bracha settlement. One of the men targeted was apparently a member of the Israeli Navy, while the other has been allegedly known for carrying out shooting attacks on Palestinians in Burin, Nablus.

#BREAKING: Shooting attack reported on the route 60 highway in Israel near Hawara. Initial reports via MDA say 2 people are seriously injured.

Developing… pic.twitter.com/gshXzhRUru

— Moshe Schwartz (@YWNReporter) February 26, 2023

The Palestinian Islamic Jihad Movement (PIJ) issued a statement following the attack, praising the operation.

“We affirm that this operation came in fulfillment of the resistance’s promise to avenge the blood of the leaders of the Al-Quds Brigades, Muhammad Al-Junaidi, and Hussam Aslim, and as a natural and legitimate response to the crimes of the occupation that escalated against our people, and it sends a strong message to the Aqaba security summit meeting that our resistance is present despite the size of the conspiracy,” the statement said.

The attack was carried out in the midst of the PA-Israeli summit in Jordan, which was attended by officials from the US, Jordan, and Egypt, and ended shortly after the incident.

Israel’s Minister of Security, Yoav Gallant, stated, “We will soon conduct an assessment of the situation and take decisions regarding the Aqaba summit.”

In addition, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir issued a joint statement, saying that the government passed a law to legalize the death penalty for Palestinians responsible for “terrorism.”

The Palestinian resistance movement Hamas also issued a statement saying that the “Huwara operation is a natural response to the occupation’s crimes, the latest of which was the Nablus massacre,” referring to the massacre carried out by Israeli forces in Nablus on 23 February.

Meanwhile, various reports on social media indicate that Israeli settlers launched an attack against Palestinians in Huwara, attacking people with knives and guns. It was also reported that the settlers set fire to two Palestinian homes in the same area.

Israeli fanatic settlers burn two Palestinian houses in the town of Hawara, S Nablus.

The settlers are currently lynching Palestinian civilians from Hawarah. They are chasing with knives and guns anyone they see. pic.twitter.com/DAYzmeMkRZ

— Younis | يونس (@ytirawi) February 26, 2023