A retired senior IDF officer was killed outside his home last night in the Jordan Valley, in what President Shimon Peres has called an “extremely shocking murder”.

Colonel Sariya Ofer and his wife Monique Ofer were attacked in front of their house in the settlement of Brosh Habika in the middle of the night. Initial police investigations suggest it was a terror attack.

According to Mrs Ofer, the couple had gone outside after hearing strange noises. They were then attacked by Palestinians wielding iron rods and an axe.

Mrs Ofer survived the attack after escaping through a hole in the fence surrounding their house. She then called the police, who found Mr Ofer dead at the scene of the attack.

Israeli security forces have now arrested five men in connection with the murder.

This morning, President Peres said: “No-one will rest until the murderers are brought to justice.”

He added: “I want to send my condolences to the family and express my regret for the loss of a senior IDF officer who served his people and his country in a dignified way.”

This marks the third murder of an Israeli in the West Bank in a one-month period.

Three weeks ago, IDF soldier Habriel Kobi was killed near the entrance to the Tomb of the Patriarchs in Hebron. Earlier that week, IDF soldier Tomer Hazan was murdered by a Palestinian colleague in Qalqilyah.