A violent attack in northern Israel on Friday resulted in the deaths of two individuals, following a car-ramming and stabbing incident involving a Palestinian assailant. According to Israel Police, the event unfolded in the city of Beit Shean, where the attacker first drove his vehicle into a group of people, fatally injuring a 68-year-old man and wounding a teenage boy. He then exited the vehicle on a nearby highway, where he stabbed an 18-year-old woman, also resulting in her death.
Paramedics pronounced both victims dead at the scene. The deceased have been identified as Shimshon Mordechai, aged 68, and Aviv Maor, a teenager. After the attack, the assailant was reportedly heading towards the city of Afula when he was shot by a security officer, as confirmed by Israeli President Isaac Herzog.
In response to the incident, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz ordered military forces to take immediate action against the attacker’s hometown of Qabatiya in the West Bank. Katz emphasized the need to confront what he termed “terrorist infrastructure,” stating, “Anyone who aids or sponsors terrorism will pay the full price.”
The Israeli military has begun mobilizing troops near Qabatiya, a practice that often includes conducting raids in areas from which attackers originate. These operations are intended to locate militant activities but have drawn criticism from human rights organizations, which label them as acts of collective punishment.
This latest incident occurred against a backdrop of escalating violence in the region, triggered in part by the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. The conflict has claimed tens of thousands of Palestinian lives and has led to increased attacks from both Palestinian militants and Israeli settlers.
Just one day prior to the stabbing and ramming attack, an Israeli reservist soldier in civilian clothing collided with a Palestinian man who was praying by the roadside in the West Bank.
In light of these events, Mike Huckabee, the U.S. Ambassador to Israel, condemned the attack on social media, describing it as an assault on innocent civilians. “For the Jew-haters and anti-Israel crowd, these intentional murders threaten a short and long-term solution to lasting peace,” he stated.
The recent surge in violence has raised alarm among both local residents and international observers, highlighting the ongoing tensions in the region. As Israel continues to grapple with security challenges, the government remains committed to bolstering its defenses to protect its citizens.
