An Israeli settler opened fire in the West Bank settlement of Shiloh on Wednesday evening, killing four Palestinians and wounding several others.
According to press reports, the attacker transported Palestinian workers to and from Shiloh industrial area on a daily basis.
On Wednesday afternoon, he picked up the workers to take them home, and stopped on the way out to ask a security guard for a cup of water. He then snatched the guard's weapon, shot dead the two Palestinian workers in his car at the time, and then ran into the industrial area, killing another Palestinian worker on the way and wounding two others. One of the wounded died late wednesday in an Israeli hospital.
Israel's public channel quoted the killer as saying that he had carried out the attack in a bid to stop the pullout from the Gaza Strip. According to Israel Radio, the Jewish attacker is from the settlement of "Shvut Rahel," north of the West Bank city of Ramallah.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas denounced the of killing of the Palestinian workers. Abbas told WAFA that such event aims at halting the Israeli withdrawal of the Gaza Strip.
He also called on the Israeli government to shoulder responsibility towards the innocent civilians and to end its escalation through statements calling on reinforcing settlements in the West Bank. Abbas also called on the Palestinian people not to follow up any escalation and not to give any justification to delay the Israeli withdrawal.
Earlier, Hamas threatened to avenge the attack. "This crime is not going to pass without tough punishment," said Hamas spokesman in the Gaza Strip, Mushir al-Masri. But he added Hamas has an interest in seeing the Gaza withdrawal proceed, suggesting Hamas might not act immediately.
