A man and a woman in their 30s were pronounced dead after being critically wounded, and a 54-year-old woman was moderately wounded in a shooting terror attack carried out by a 23-year-old Palestinian in the Barkan industrial area in the West Bank.

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The woman who later succumbed to her wounds was found handcuffed on the floor. The 54-year-old told the paramedics she heard a loud noise and went to check its source. After seeing her, the terrorist shot at her and she hid under a table.

Some 5,000 Palestinians are employed in Israeli-owned businesses in the Barken industrial area.

Security camera footage shows the Palestinian escaping the scene after shooting three people.

Terrorist fleeing the scene (באדיבות "אנשי הדממה")

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Shooting in West Bank

The IDF called the shooting attack "a serious terror attack."

According to the defense establishment, there was no prior intelligence regarding intentions to carry out the attack.

Security forces are currently conducting a manhunt to capture the assailant who fled the scene.

MDA Paramedics received the report about the shooting at 07:39am, arrived at the scene and began giving initial treatment to the wounded.

Shooting scene (Photo:TPS)

The now moderately-wounded woman was evacuated to the Beilinson Hospital at the Rabin Medical Center in Petah Tikva In severe condition after enduring a gunshot to her stomach.

She is no longer in a life-threatening condition.

The police and IDF force closed the area and are currently conducting extensive searches after the perpetrator who resides in the village of Shweika near Tulkarem. According to estimations he is still armed.

The initial investigation indicates that the suspect arrived armed with an M-16 assault rifle to one of the offices in the Barkan industrial area, which symbolizes coexistence between Arab and Jews who work there together.

He then went up to the second floor, opened fire, and injured three people.

The suspect worked for seven months in the industrial area and was granted a work permit which was supposed to expire next month.

Terrorist fleeing the scene

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the terror attack at opening of the government meeting.

"This was a very severe terror attack in which two Israelis were brutally murdered and a citizen was also wounded," the premier said.

"The security forces are in pursuit of the assailant. I am certain that they will apprehend him and we will deal with him to the fullest extent of the law.

"On behalf of myself and all government ministers I would like to send condolences to the families of the two people who were murdered and our hopes and prayers for a swift recovery for the woman who was wounded," he concluded.

Yossi Dagan, head of the Shomron Regional Council dubbed the incident as "a serious security incident."

"This is a serious incident in an area which symbolizes a bridge of coexistence in the West Bank. More than 8,000 employees work in the Barkan industrial area, with half of them being Jewish and half residents of the Palestinian Authority," he explained.

"I see here Arabs and Jews who sit together and cry," he exclaimed.

"I want to stress one thing—this incident is very grave, but we'll never break. The Zionist enterprise will continue vigorously operating in the West Bank as well as all over Israel," he asserted.

Security forces searching the area

"We will continue building settlements, and developing the education and the industry. This despicable incident won't deter us. We will never break," he stated.

The Hamas terror organization welcomed the terror attack. "The Barkan shooting is a new chapter in our resistance in the West Bank," Hamas said.

"The incident has proven that the attempts of the Palestinian Authority to normalize relations with the Zionist occupier are unsuccessful.

"The Palestinian youth wants confrontation, "the terror organization added.

Daoud Shehab, an Islamic Jihad spokesman, described the shooting attack as reply to "Israel's war crimes in Gaza, Jerusalem, the Bedouin village of Khan al-Ahmar and the damage Israel causes to the al-Aqsa mosque."

"We call on our people to rise up against the settlements terror until the West Bank is free from it," he added.

IDF helicopter (Photo: AFP)

President Reuven Rivlin also addressed the terror attack, saying "I'm appalled and distressed by the horrible terror attack carried out in the Barkan industrial area. My heart goes out to the victim's families, and I pray for the recovery of the woman who survived. This was an attack against the idea of Israelis and Palestinian coexisting, and living peacefully side by side.

"I call upon the Palestinian leadership to condemn this despicable terror attack and to join the efforts of finding the assailant and his accomplices," Rivlin said.

"We will not rest until the law is exhausted with the perpetrators," he added.

IDF Spokesperson Brigadier General Ronen Manelis explained that a chase is being conducted to capture the terrorists, while the Shin Bet is investigating the incident.

Manelis said that despite that the terrorist had a work permit, the fact he managed to enter the factory with a rifle is yet to be examined.

"The terrorist might have additional motives (which are not nationalistically-motivated), but that doesn't change the fact this is a terror attack," he added.

"The industrial area is a zone of coexistence where Palestinian with a work permit are employed alongside Israelis. We'll review this incident and decide how to proceed from here. Nevertheless, preserving the coexistence is one of the army's missions," the IDF Spokesperson went on to say.

He also noted that 3,300 Palestinian with a work permit are currently employed in Barkan as well as a similar amount of Israeli Jews.

Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman tweeted, "The IDF and the security forces are conducting a manhunt to capture the terrorist. It's only a matter of time until we apprehend him (and bring him to justice)."</s>BARKAN, West Bank (Reuters) - A Palestinian gunman shot dead two Israelis and wounded a third on Sunday in an industrial park next to a Jewish settlement in the occupied West Bank, the Israeli military said.

The assailant, the military said, had worked in a factory where the shooting took place.

Israel’s national ambulance service said a man and two women were shot in the attack in the Barkan industrial area, where nearly 5,000 Palestinians are employed in Israeli-owned businesses.

A military spokesman, in a conference call with foreign journalists several hours after the incident, said the man and one of the women had died of their wounds.

The other woman shot in the incident was taken to hospital, where doctors said her injuries were not life-threatening.

“This was a serious terrorist attack,” the military said in a statement. It identified the gunman as a 23-year-old Palestinian from a West Bank village and said he was still at large.

Surveillance camera footage broadcast on Israeli television showed a man armed with a rifle fleeing down stairs and running away from the factory.

Barkan industrial park is next to the settlement of Barkan and was established in the early 1980s.

Most countries consider settlements that Israel has built on land occupied in the 1967 Middle East war as illegal. Israel disputes this.</s>BARKAN, WEST BANK: A Palestinian gunman shot dead two Israelis and wounded a third on Sunday in an industrial park next to a Jewish settlement in the occupied West Bank, the Israeli military said.The assailant, the military said, had worked in a factory where the shooting took place.Israel´s national ambulance service said a man and two women were shot in the attack in the Barkan industrial area, where nearly 5,000 Palestinians are employed in Israeli-owned businesses. A military spokesman, in a conference call with foreign journalists several hours after the incident, said the man and one of the women had died of their wounds.</s>A shooting attack by a Palestinian at an industrial zone for a West Bank settlement on Sunday killed two Israelis and wounded another, the army said.

Army spokesman Jonathan Conricus said the 23-year-old Palestinian had worked in the Barkan industrial zone, where the attack took place in the occupied West Bank.

Security forces were searching for the Palestinian.

Conricus called it a "terrorist attack" but added that other unspecified factors were involved.

The Palestinian used a homemade gun in the attack, known locally as a Carlo, according to Conricus.

He said it appeared it was a "lone-wolf attack".

The industrial zone is located next to Israeli settlement Barkan and near the settlement of Ariel in the north of the West Bank.

Palestinians work side by side with Israelis in the industrial zone.

A wave of Palestinian attacks against Israelis broke out in 2015, but they have since become sporadic.

Last month, a Palestinian teenager stabbed an Israeli to death at a junction at the entrance to a large bloc of Israeli settlements in the West Bank near Jerusalem.

A number of attacks have occurred at that location, the Gush Etzion Junction.</s>A Palestinian gunman shot two Israelis and wounded a third early Sunday in the Barkan industrial zone, next to a Jewish settlement in the occupied West Bank, the Israeli military said.

The suspect, a 23-year-old Palestinian, had a permit to work in the industrial zone, army spokesman Jonathan Conricus said, adding that Israel is treating the incident as a terrorist attack.

The assailant, the military said, had worked in a factory where the shooting took place.

Israel's national ambulance service said a man and two women were shot in the attack in area, where nearly 5,000 Palestinians are employed in Israeli-owned businesses.

A military spokesman, in a conference call with foreign journalists several hours after the incident, said the man and one of the women had died of their wounds.

The other woman shot in the incident was taken to hospital, where doctors said her injuries were not life-threatening.

"I am certain that they will apprehend him and I am also certain that we will deal with him to the fullest extent of the law and quickly," Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said at the start of his weekly cabinet meeting in Jerusalem.

Hamas, the Islamist militant group that controls the Gaza Strip - the other main Palestinian territory - called the attack a "heroic operation."

The Barkan industrial zone in the northern West Bank employees thousands of Israelis and Palestinians.

Advocates of Israeli settlement policies say the industrial zones are an example of the benefits Palestinians have under Israeli control, including much-needed employment to Palestinians.

Critics - many of whom have pushed to boycott the industrial zones - say Israel is taking advantage of a vulnerable workforce and a Palestinian economy crippled by Israeli restrictions.

Israeli captured the West Bank in the 1967 Six-Day War.</s>At Least Three Israelis Injured in West Bank Shooting

At least three Israelis were wounded on Sunday in a shooting near an industrial zone adjacent to a West Bank settlement.

Palestine Today news agency reported that one of the injured was killed, citing Israeli online news website “0404”.

The Jerusalem Post reported that two of the injured a man and woman in their 30’s, were fatally wounded and one, a woman in her 50’s, was in moderate condition.

Israeli media also said that the suspected shooter is a 23-year-old Palestinian who fled the scene. The enemy radio reported that he was a former factory worker from Qalqilya who was fired two months ago.</s>A shooting attack by a Palestinian at an industrial zone for a West Bank settlement on Sunday killed two Israelis and wounded another, the army said.

Army spokesman Jonathan Conricus said the 23-year-old Palestinian had worked in the Barkan industrial zone, where the attack took place in the occupied West Bank.

Conricus called it a "terrorist attack" but added that other unspecified factors were involved.

The Palestinian used a homemade gun in the attack, known locally as a Carlo, according to Conricus.

He said it appeared it was a "lone-wolf attack".

Security forces were searching for the suspected perpetrator, Conricus said.

Magen David Adom emergency medical services said their medics had entered a building at Barkan where they found a man and woman without pulse, and pronounced them dead.

A woman aged 54 was also found wounded and in moderate condition, the medical services said.

Speaking at the beginning of the weekly cabinet meeting, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the shooting "a very severe terror attack".

He said he was certain the perpetrator would be caught and brought to justice.

The Palestinian Islamic Jihad militant group called the attack a "natural response" to Israeli crimes in Gaza, Jerusalem and Khan al-Ahmar, a Bedouin village in the West Bank slated for demolition.

The industrial zone is located next to Israeli settlement Barkan and near the settlement of Ariel in the north of the West Bank.

Palestinians work side by side with Israelis in the industrial zone.

A wave of Palestinian attacks against Israelis broke out in 2015, but they have since become sporadic.

Last month, a Palestinian teenager stabbed an Israeli to death at a junction at the entrance to a large bloc of Israeli settlements in the West Bank near Jerusalem.

A number of attacks have occurred at that location, the Gush Etzion Junction.</s>A Palestinian gunman has shot dead two Israelis and wounded a third in an industrial park next to a Jewish settlement in the occupied West Bank, the Israeli military has said.

The assailant, the army said, had worked in a factory where the shooting took place on Sunday.

Israel’s national ambulance service said a man and two women were shot in the attack in the Barkan industrial area, where nearly 5,000 Palestinians are employed in Israeli-owned businesses.

A military spokesman, in a conference call with foreign journalists several hours after the incident, said the man and one of the women had died of their wounds.

The other woman shot in the incident was taken to hospital, where doctors said her injuries were not life-threatening.

Army spokesman Jonathan Conricus called it a “terrorist attack” but added that other unspecified factors were involved.

The Palestinian used a homemade gun in the attack, known locally as a Carlo, according to Conricus.

He said it appeared it was a “lone-wolf attack”.

Conricus identified the gunman as a 23-year-old Palestinian from a West Bank village and said he was still at large.

Surveillance camera footage broadcast on Israeli television showed a man armed with a rifle fleeing down stairs and running away from the factory.

Barkan industrial park is next to the settlement of Barkan and was established in the early 1980s.

Speaking at the beginning of the weekly cabinet meeting, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he was certain the perpetrator would be caught and brought to justice.

The Palestinian Islamic Jihad group called the attack a “natural response” to Israeli crimes in Gaza, Jerusalem and Khan al-Ahmar, a Bedouin village in the West Bank slated for demolition.</s>BARKAN INDUSTRIAL ZONE - A Palestinian shot dead two Israelis and wounded another at a West Bank settlement’s industrial zone on Sunday as security forces hunted the suspected assailant who also worked at the site, the Israeli army said.

Since the attack was allegedly carried out by a Palestinian employed at the Barkan industrial zone in the occupied West Bank , questions were raised over whether he knew the victims and over the motivation behind the shooting.

Army spokesman Jonathan Conricus called it a “terrorist attack” but added that other unspecified factors were involved.

The 23-year-old Palestinian used a homemade gun, known locally as a “Carlo”, according to Conricus, in the apparent “lone-wolf attack”. Security forces were searching for the suspected perpetrator, Conricus said. Surveillance footage spread online that appeared to show the Palestinian fleeing the site with a gun.

Magen David Adom emergency medical services said their medics had entered a building at Barkan where they found a man and woman, both without a pulse, and pronounced them dead.

“Later we found another injured woman hiding under a table with gunshot wounds in her upper body,” said paramedic Tomer Fine, who was the first responder at the site.

The woman, 54, was taken to hospital, where her condition was stabilised.

Speaking at Israel’s weekly cabinet meeting, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the shooting “a very severe terror attack”.

He was certain the perpetrator would be caught and brought to justice.

The Palestinian Islamic Jihad militant group called the attack a “natural response” to Israeli crimes in Gaza, Jerusalem and Khan al-Ahmar, a Bedouin village in the West Bank slated for demolition.

The industrial zone is located next to the Israeli settlement Barkan and near the settlement of Ariel in the north of the West Bank .

Palestinians work side by side with Israelis in the industrial zone.

Palestinians often face tough choices in finding employment in the economically struggling West Bank and jobs in Israeli settlements can provide steady income.

Speaking at Barkan, Yossi Dagan, head of a regional council for Israeli settlements in the area, said there were “Jewish and Palestinian workers standing outside together and crying”.

Some Israeli media reported the Palestinian suspect had been recently fired from his job at the site, raising speculation the attack may have been motivated by a personal vendetta.

The army, however, said the alleged shooter was still employed at the site as of Sunday, but noted he had been away from work in recent days.

The attack took place at the Barkan depot of the Alon Group, which manufactures recycling and environmental products, according to Eran Bodankin, a manager at the site.

Speaking with Channel 10 television, Bodankin said the suspect had entered the offices to fix an electrical problem, only to open fire at a secretary and senior manager sitting nearby.

A wave of Palestinian attacks against Israelis broke out in 2015, but they have since become sporadic.

Last month, a Palestinian teenager stabbed an Israeli to death at a junction at the entrance to a large bloc of Israeli settlements in the West Bank near Jerusalem.

A number of attacks have occurred at that location, the Gush Etzion Junction.

Israel settlements are considered illegal under international law and major stumbling blocks to peace as they are built on land the Palestinians see as part of their future state.

Israeli leaders blame Palestinian violence, “incitement” and intransigence for the lack of progress in peace efforts.</s>JERUSALEM (AP) — A Palestinian attacker on Sunday opened fire inside a West Bank industrial zone where Israelis and Palestinians work together, killing two Israelis and seriously wounding a third.

The Israeli military said it was treating the killings as a nationalistic attack and that forces were searching for the suspect late Sunday evening. But other workers suggested the attack had been carried out by a disgruntled employee and was not politically motivated.

The shooting took place early Sunday in the Barkan industrial zone, near the large Israeli settlement of Ariel. Thousands of Israelis and Palestinians work side by side at the industrial zone, which includes 160 factories. The Palestinian economy is heavily restricted under Israeli military rule, forcing tens of thousands of Palestinians to seek work in Israel as well as Jewish settlements.

Military spokesman Lt. Col. Jonathan Conricus said the preliminary finding was that a 23-year-old man from a nearby village had carried out the attack.

Conricus said the suspect was not known to authorities and was not believed to belong to a Palestinian militant group, saying it appeared to be a "lone wolf" attack.

"We know he is still armed and considered dangerous," he added.

The Israeli military later named the suspect as Ashraf Na'alwa, a resident of a West Bank village near Tulkarm. Israeli security forces searched Na'alwa's village near the West Bank city of Tulkarem and arrested several Palestinians suspected of assisting the suspect.

Both Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman denounced the attack and said the perpetrator would be brought to justice.

Since 2015, Palestinians have killed over 50 Israelis, two visiting Americans and a British tourist in stabbings, shootings and car-ramming attacks. Israeli forces killed over 260 Palestinians in that period, of which Israel says most were attackers.

Gaza's Hamas rulers and other militant groups praised Sunday's attack, but none claimed responsibility for it.

One of the victims was identified as Kim Yehezkel, a 28-year-old mother of an infant son, who worked in the office that was attacked. The second was named as Ziv Hajbi, 35. Another woman in her 50s was seriously wounded. Closed-circuit footage from the scene showed a man holding a handgun and wearing a backpack, fleeing down a flight of stairs and then dashing past stunned onlookers.

Israeli media reported that those killed were found shot to death on their office floor with their hands bound. At his weekly Cabinet meeting, Netanyahu said they had been killed "with great cruelty."

"Our security forces are chasing after the despicable murderer," Netanyahu said. "I am sure we will catch him and bring him to justice soon."

U.S. Ambassador David Friedman wrote on Twitter that the industrial zone "has been a model of Israeli-Palestinian coexistence since 1982, with thousands working and prospering together. Today a terrorist shattered that harmony by brutally murdering two Israelis at work."

Conricus said the attacker was employed in one of the factories and had a valid working permit. While insisting the attack was an act of terrorism, he acknowledged there were "other factors involved as well," without elaborating.

Moshe Lev-Ran, an export manager at a company whose factory is located next to the scene of the attack, said he doubted the official account.

"One of the workers was fired and he didn't like the owner ... Everybody knew him. He went upstairs to the second floor because he knew who he wanted to shoot, and he shot," he said. "That's what I think happened. I don't believe it was one of the Palestinians who just woke up in the morning and took a gun to shoot an Israeli."

"No way in our industrial zone," he said, describing an atmosphere of camaraderie in Barkan.

Israeli President Reuven Rivlin said: "This was not only an attack on innocent people going about their daily lives, it was also an attack on the possibility of Israelis and Palestinians co-existing peacefully."
A 23-year-old Palestinian opens fire and kills two Israelis, seriously wounding a third inside the Barkan Industrial Park on the West Bank. The gunman, who had worked at the factory where the shooting took place, fled the scene and remains at large.