Bruchin, West Bank – May 15, 2025 — A pregnant Israeli woman, Tzeela Gez (30), was killed in a shooting attack in the occupied West Bank on Wednesday evening while on her way to the hospital to give birth.
She was traveling with her husband, Hananel Gez, when a gunman opened fire on their car near the Bruchin settlement, critically injuring her and lightly wounding him. Despite immediate medical attention at the scene and an emergency caesarean section, doctors were unable to save Tzeela’s life. The baby survived and is in serious but stable condition.
Manhunt and Political Response
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said they launched a manhunt for the attacker, surrounding the nearby Palestinian village of Bruqin.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the shooting a “horrific terrorist attack,” contrasting the values of Israel with those of the perpetrators. Defense Minister Israel Katz vowed a forceful response, directing the IDF to identify and retaliate against the source of the attack.
Though no group has claimed responsibility, Hamas praised the attack, calling it a “heroic response” to Israeli operations in Gaza and the West Bank.
Background and Broader Conflict
The killing occurred amid a period of intensified violence in the West Bank since the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack on Israel, which sparked the ongoing Israel-Gaza war. The death toll continues to climb on both sides, with hundreds of Palestinians and dozens of Israelis killed in recent months.
Israel currently maintains about 160 settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, housing roughly 700,000 Israelis. The international community considers these settlements illegal under international law — a view backed by a recent advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice (ICJ). Israel disputes this interpretation.
