Israeli, militant killed as violence flares

ISN SECURITY WATCH (Wednesday, 1 March: 15.21 CET) – One Israeli was shot dead and a second critically wounded in separate shooting attacks in the West Bank on Wednesday. An Islamic Jihad commander also died in an explosion in the Gaza Strip.

An as yet unidentified Israeli civilian was shot dead by two masked gunmen near the West Bank settlement of Migdalim as he was filling his car with gas, Ha'aretz reports.

The Fatah-aligned Al Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades claimed responsibility for the attack but police said that the shooting may have been criminally motivated.

A second Israeli received serious wounds in a second incident when gunmen fired on his vehicle in a drive-by shooting near the Karnei Shomron settlement.

In other news, a senior Islamic Jihad commander was killed in a car explosion in the Gaza Strip on Wednesday.

Police identified the dead man as Khaled Dahdouh, a leader in the militant movement's armed wing.

Palestinian sources told Ha'aretz that the Israeli air force attacked the car in which Dahdouh was traveling.

The Israeli military denied any involvement in the incident.

According to reports, the car in which the militant commander was traveling exploded as it passed over a speed bump.

Two people were injured in the incident.

An Islamic Jihad spokesperson, Abu Dajana told reporters: "Our retaliation and our reprisal will reach into the depths of the Zionist entity."