Seven people including a pregnant woman were left wounded in a drive-by shooting attack near the settlement of Ofra in the West Bank on Sunday evening.

The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said the shooting took place from a moving vehicle and targeted civilians trying to hitchhike from the nearby junction.

Doctors were forced to deliver the 21-year-old pregnant woman’s baby prematurely after she was rushed to the Shaare Zedek Hospital in Jerusalem in a serious condition after suffering wounds to her upper body.

On Monday morning, a hospital spokesperson said the woman’s condition had stabilised overnight – but the baby’s condition had worsened to critical.

Security forces have launched a manhunt for the attackers. Footage from the scene shows a white vehicle slowing down near the hitchhiking stop and stopping briefly.

After shots are fired from the vehicle, IDF soldiers shoot at the car, which then continues north on Route 60. 

Islamist terror group Hamas praised the terrorist attack late on Sunday, saying: “Despite all the attempts to uproot the resistance to the occupation, the action on [Sunday] evening proves that the principle of resistance is still alive and beating.”

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu commented on the attack in a video clip on his official Facebook page: “Everyone is praying for the wellbeing of the young woman who is fighting for her life – her baby was saved, and we are also wishing a speedy recovery to all the wounded.

"We will not rest until we find these murderous criminals and bring them to justice.” Sara Netanyahu, the prime minister’s wife, also wished the victims a speedy and full recovery in the video.

President Reuven Rivlin said on Monday morning: “We are praying with great concern for the recovery of the wounded in the criminal terrorist attack, and among them the young mother who brought life to the world out of the horror.”

Mr Rivlin wished the victims a quick recovery and praised “all the security forces who are chasing down the terrorists relentlessly".

The IDF said it was searching for the shooter in the nearby village of Silwad and has set up checkpoints.

Residents also reported the IDF was searching in the nearby village of Ein Yabrud, just west of Ofra. The troops collected security cameras located in the village.