Two people have been killed in a violent attack in northern Israel involving a vehicle and a knife, according to Israeli emergency services. The incident, described by police as a "rolling terror attack," occurred on Friday.
Details of the Attack and Aftermath
A Palestinian man from the occupied West Bank carried out the assault, first running over a man before stabbing a woman, resulting in both victims' deaths. A civilian at the scene shot and wounded the assailant, who was subsequently taken to hospital.
The Israeli ambulance service confirmed that a man and a woman were pronounced dead at the scene after medics failed to resuscitate them. A teenager was also injured during the attack.
Israeli Military Response and West Bank Tensions
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz stated he had instructed the military to respond forcefully in the West Bank town of Qabatiya, which he identified as the attacker's home. The Israeli military confirmed it was "preparing for an operation" in the area.
It is a common Israeli practice to launch raids in West Bank towns linked to attackers and to demolish the homes of their families. Israel argues this helps dismantle militant networks and prevent future attacks, while human rights groups condemn it as collective punishment.
Context of Violence and a Separate Incident
The attack comes amid heightened tensions. According to UN figures, more than 1,000 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank between 7 October 2023 and 17 October 2024, primarily in security force operations, with some deaths resulting from settler violence. In the same period, 57 Israelis were killed in Palestinian attacks.
In a separate incident reported on Friday, an Israeli reservist soldier was placed under house arrest. He is accused of ramming his vehicle into a Palestinian man who was praying on a roadside in the occupied West Bank on Thursday. The military stated the reservist acted "in severe violation of his authority," had his weapon confiscated, and his service terminated. The Palestinian victim was checked in hospital and released unharmed.
