Israeli Soldier Killed in West Bank Ramming

Staff Sergeant Geri Gideon Hanghal, a 24-year-old Indian-origin Israeli soldier from the Bnei Menashe community, was killed in a vehicle-ramming attack near the West Bank’s Beit El settlement. The attack, which occurred near Asaf Junction, involved a truck with a Palestinian license plate driven by 58-year-old Hayil Dhaifallah from Rafat. Footage showed the truck veering off a highway and ramming into an IDF guard post. Hanghal, who had immigrated to Israel from northeast India in 2020, was a member of the Kfir Brigade’s Nahshon Battalion. The Bnei Menashe community, recognized as descendants of the Israelite tribe of Menasseh, has seen about 5,000 of its members immigrate to Israel. His funeral will be held on Thursday.