Two people have been killed in what police say was a rolling terror attack in northern Israel.
Police reported that the attacker ran over a pedestrian in the eastern city of Beit Shean, followed by stabbing a woman near Ein Harod, approximately 8 miles (12.5 km) away. The assailant was eventually shot and wounded by a civilian outside Afula.
Victims have been identified as 68-year-old Shimshon Mordechai and 16-year-old boy injured during the ramming. The stabbing victim is 18-year-old Aviv Maor.
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz confirmed that the attacker originated from the village of Qabatiya in the northern occupied West Bank. Following the attack, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced preparations for operations in that area, with Katz ordering immediate action.
The IDF stated that the attacker had infiltrated into Israeli territory a few days earlier. Reports indicate that he worked illegally in Israel, using his employer's vehicle to conduct the assault.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed his condolences to the victims' families, commending the civilian who neutralized the suspect.
This incident follows another troubling event where an Israeli reservist was dismissed after being filmed ramming a Palestinian man with a quad bike.
Recent statistics indicate a surge in violence, with more than 1,000 Palestinians killed in the West Bank since the outbreak of hostilities in October 2023, exacerbated by the ongoing conflict.
