Palestinian terrorists overnight Tuesday shot and lightly wounded an Israeli bus driver bringing Jewish visitors to Kever Yosef in Shechem in Shomron, according to Hebrew-language media.

The gunmen reportedly opened fire on the bus as the driver was leaving the area after dropping off some two dozen pilgrims.

The Israel Defense Forces dispatched troops to extract the driver and the pilgrims, who did not coordinate the trip in advance with the military.

Prior to Hamas’s Oct. 7, 2023, massacre, Orthodox Jews regularly visited Kever Yosef under IDF protection, with clashes often breaking out during the visits.

Israeli citizens are barred from entering Shechem, which is designated as Area A per the Oslo Accords – under full Palestinian Authority security and administrative control – without prior consent.

Last week, three Israelis were shot and lightly wounded on their way to daven at the Kever Yosef compound. The three men, members of Breslover community, had entered Shechem after driving through an Israeli military checkpoint and fled after being fired on, later seeking medical attention at Hadassah Mount Scopus Hospital, where police subsequently detained them.

In June, a Jew sustained minor wounds in a Palestinian attack as he tried to enter Shechem to daven at the kever.

In March, Jews who entered Shechem to daven at Kever Yosef were fired on as they exited the city. JNS