The scene of a shooting attack near Jericho, the West Bank. Credit: Rescuers Without Borders

The security situation across Israel and the West Bank continued to deteriorate on Monday as American officials announced the death of an American-Israeli dual citizen in a terrorist attack, the latest in a slew of such attacks that have sparked reprisal violence and prompted Israel to deploy hundreds of additional troops to the West Bank.

While the man’s identity has not been released, US Ambassador to Israel Thomas Nides announced his killing in a statement on Twitter

“Sadly, I can confirm that a U.S. citizen was killed in one of the terror attacks in the West Bank tonight,” Nides said. “I pray for his family.”

According to the Magen David Adom emergency service, medics were called to Beit Ha’arava Junction after receiving reports of a car crash. When first responders arrived, they found an unconscious 27-year-old man suffering from gunshot wounds. He was taken to the Hadassah Hospital in Jerusalem, where he was pronounced dead hours later.

According to Israel’s army and Rescuers Without Borders, multiple gunmen arrived by car at the junction and opened fire at an Israeli-owned car. They then continued driving and carried out another shooting at the Almog Junction, where a family of four was “miraculously” unharmed despite their vehicle being shot and damaged as they drove through a gas station.

The terrorists set their car on fire and tried to change vehicles, but ended up fleeing on foot toward the Jericho refugee camp. Israeli security forces shot at the assailants but it was unclear whether they were hit. Israeli soldiers set up roadblocks and checkpoints in the area as part of the ongoing manhunt.