Kim Levengrond-Yehezkel Photo: Facebook

Naalowa died during a gunfight as the Border Police attempted to arrest him in an apartment in Nablus, northern Samaria, where he had been hiding out.

The Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) said Naalowa had been tracked down following an intensive intelligence effort with the Yamam counter-terrorism unit, together with IDF forces and that he was armed and had planned to carry out another terrorist attack.

On October 7,  Naalowa, from the town of Shweika in northern Samaria murdered two Israelis – 28-year-old Kim Levengrond-Yehezkel and 35-year-old Ziv Hajbi – at the Alon metal recycling factory located in the Barkan Industrial Zone.

Naalowa who had previously worked at the factory for seven months forced a Palestinian cleaner to tie up his victims at gunpoint, and then shot them both at point-blank range. He later shot and injured a third employee.

Zic Chagbi. Photo: Facebook

He had been on the run until now.

Late last night, IDF forces also shot and killed one of the two terrorists who carried out a drive-by shooting at the Ofra junction earlier this week in which several people were hurt, including a pregnant woman whose baby was delivered and later died.

Commenting on the incident,  Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan said: “I salute the Yamam unit that together with the IDF and Shin Bet closed the account with the terrorist who killed Kim Levengrond-Yehezkel and Ziv Hajbi and also the terrorist involved in the Ofra shooting… “We will reach every terrorist, in any place he is hiding.”

A statement from the Israel Security Agency read: “The ISA investigated several suspects who had aided – or were aware of – Naalowa’s activity. Several suspects have already been tried.

From the investigation of the detainees, it was learned that Naalowa intended to carry out another attack, which was thwarted by this morning’s action.

Security forces will continue to take determined action to deal with terrorists and their accomplices to the fullest extent of the law and to guard the security of the citizens of the State of Israel.”

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu added: “I commend the ISA, IDF and the special anti-terror unit [of the Israel Police] for their impressive actions which led to the location and elimination of the abhorrent terrorist from the Barkan [Industrial Zone] attack and another terrorist who was involved in the attack at Ofra.

Israel’s long arm will reach all those who harm Israeli citizens.”