Brief

Israeli ambassador’s son critically injured in West Bank car‑ramming attack

A reservist and son of Israel’s ambassador to the United States was left in critical condition after a vehicle was driven into a checkpoint in the occupied West Bank.

By Felo News Desk · Published Tue, 29 Sep 2026 16:06:05 GMT

On Wednesday, a car driven by a Palestinian man collided with a security checkpoint near the settlement of Beit Horon in the occupied West Bank, leaving Neria Leiter, an Israel Defence Forces reservist and son of Ambassador Yechiel Leiter, in critical condition. Israeli forces at the scene fired at the driver, who was later killed, and deployed additional troops to the area.

Leiter’s older brother, Moshe Yedidya Leiter, had been killed in Gaza a few days after the Hamas‑led Oct. 7, 2023 attack that sparked the current war. The incident has drawn statements of support from Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Isaac Herzog, who described Leiter as “fighting for his life.”

According to the Palestinian Health Ministry, the attacker was identified as Mahmoud Suleiman. A paramedic from Magen David Adom reported that Leiter was unconscious when emergency crews arrived and was taken to a hospital in Jerusalem for treatment.

The attack follows a rise in violent incidents in the West Bank since the Gaza conflict began, including a shooting that killed an Israeli man earlier in the week. The incident is part of a broader pattern of security tensions in the area, highlighted in recent Felo coverage of the systematic dismantling of Palestinian life in the West Bank and calls for intensified military action by Israeli officials.

Leiter’s case has been highlighted by his father, who posted on social media that his son “needs a miracle,” and by President Herzog, who offered prayers for his recovery. Israeli forces have increased security presence around the checkpoint following the attack.

Key facts

Neria Leiter, son of Israel’s ambassador to the US, was critically injured in a car‑ramming attack near Beit Horon (independent.co.uk)
The attacker, Mahmoud Suleiman, was killed by Israeli forces after the collision (independent.co.uk)
Leiter was transported to a hospital in Jerusalem by Magen David Adom paramedics (independent.co.uk)
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Isaac Herzog expressed support for Leiter’s recovery (independent.co.uk)

Background

The incident occurs amid escalating violence in the West Bank following the Gaza war, with Israeli officials calling for intensified military measures and Palestinian authorities condemning the attacks.

Why it matters

The attack underscores the heightened security risks for Israeli personnel and civilians in the West Bank amid ongoing conflict with Hamas and rising tensions in the region.