Three Israeli police officers were reportedly killed in a shooting in the West Bank governorate of al-Khalil on September 1, Al Mayadeen reported. According to the Maariv newspaper, the three soldiers were killed in a drive-by shooting on Route 35 east of the Tarqumiyah military checkpoint. Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich warned that another October 7 attack is possible unless Israel engages in a “pre-emptive strike”. Smotrich also hit out at the defence minister’s demand to reverse the security cabinet’s decision to maintain IDF forces along the Philadelphi Corridor. Israel’s Army Radio reported that four of the six killed hostages recovered in Gaza were on the list of captives meant for release in the first stage of a hostage deal.
