Israeli Shot in West Bank Attack Dies of Wounds; Suspected Terrorist Arrested

Yehuda Guetta, one of the three 19-year-old Israelis who were shot on Sunday during an attack in the West Bank, has died of his wounds on Wednesday night, the Beilinson Hospital in Petah Tikva said.

Sunday's shooting attack at Tapuah junction in the West Bank left three 19-year-old yeshiva students wounded. Guetta was one of them. The two others were identified as Benaya Peretz, 19, from Beit She’an and Amichai Hala, 19, from Safed.

The suspected shooter, who was identified as Muntassir Shalabi on Tuesday, was captured in a joint operation on Wednesday by the Shin Bet security service, Israeli military and Israel Police, according to Israel Defense Forces. Shalabi is also a U.S. citizen.

One West Bank resident who identified the shooter said that Shalabi recently returned from the United States, where he had lived for several years, and that he was in dire economic straits after rapidly losing money through gambling.

Some of his family members denied his involvement in the shooting, which took place at Tapuah Junction on Sunday. Three 19-year-old yeshiva students were wounded, one critically, in the attack.

Defense Minister Benny Gantz offered his condolences to the Guetta family on Wednesday night, saying “The army and all security forces will not rest until they catch the terrorist who murdered Yehuda.”

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also commented on the death of Guetta on Wednesday, saying "Israel's long arm will reach anyone who hurts its citizens," while commending the Israeli security forces for capturing Shalabi.

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On Tuesday, the Israeli army said that it had arrested several Palestinians who are suspected of assisting the perpetrators after they fled the scene, but could not confirm their involvement in attack.

Palestinian news agency Shehab reported that a car suspected of being used in the shooting was located near Nablus. Following the report, Palestinians set the car on fire.

After Sunday’s incident the army decided to reinforce its troops in the region, in addition to an already larger presence due to Muslim holiday of Ramadan.