One dead and three injured in Gush Etzion terror attack

Another of the victims, a 55-year-old woman, underwent surgery in hospital and remains in serious condition after she was mistakenly hit by IDF fire as soldiers attempted to neutralise the terrorists.

Both attackers, later identified by Palestinian officials as 18-year-olds Imran al-Atrash and Walid Sabarneh, were shot dead at the scene.

Palestinian media subsequently reported that the IDF has made dozens of arrests in Beit Omar, the village where Sabarneh was from.

The father of one of the attackers also gave an interview to Palestinian TV, in which he allegedly said that “the thing I most looked forward to in my life was to become the father of a martyr”.

The man – whom the JC has not been able to identify – said: “Thank you Allah for everything. Oh Allah, help us in our calamity and grant us something better.”

Prime Minister Netanyahu condemned the attack and said it would harden his resolve to "complete the war on all fronts".

And IDF Chief of the General Staff Eyal Zamir hailed the response of reservist troops at the scene, saying: "The reserve soldiers once again demonstrated their fighting spirit and their willingness to stand on the front line.

"Alongside the difficult incident, I want to express great appreciation and commendation. In today’s event, we saw [troops] engaging, determination, and professional conduct, just as we expect."

However, Avigdor Liberman, chair of the conservative Yisrael Beiteinu opposition party, blamed the government's "feebleness and submissiveness" for the attack.

"When terrorism smells weakness, it raises its head and goes out to kill," he said.

"Terror attacks are not a decree of fate, but a struggle that requires determination, strength and independence, everything that this government of negligence does not have."

Gush Etzion is a major crossroads in the West Bank, located south of Jerusalem and Bethlehem. It has been the scene of previous terrorist attacks, including an attack in September that wounded two Israeli teens.