A Palestinian individual carried out an attack in northern Israel, resulting in the deaths of two people. Authorities reported that the incident was characterized as a “rolling terror attack.” The victims, a man and a woman, were pronounced dead at the scene after emergency responders were unable to resuscitate them. A teenager was also injured during the assault.
In response to the attack, Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz stated he had directed the military to take strong measures in the West Bank town of Qabaitya, identifying it as the assailant’s place of origin. The Israeli military indicated it was “preparing for an operation” in the region to prevent further incidents.
The attack comes on the heels of another violent occurrence reported by the Israeli army, in which an Israeli reservist allegedly drove his vehicle into a Palestinian man while he was praying on the roadside in the occupied West Bank. The army confirmed that the reservist had previously fired shots in the area. A statement from the military noted that the reservist acted “in severe violation of his authority,” leading to the confiscation of his weapon. He is currently under house arrest while investigations continue.
Video footage reviewed by Reuters shows a man in civilian clothing, armed, driving an off-road vehicle towards the individual praying, an incident that has sparked widespread outrage.
According to data from the United Nations, the year has been one of the most violent on record for attacks by Israeli civilians against Palestinians in the West Bank. More than 750 injuries have been reported, along with over 1,000 Palestinian fatalities occurring between October 7, 2023, and October 17, 2023. These deaths have largely resulted from operations by security forces and incidents of settler violence. During the same time frame, 57 Israelis were killed in attacks attributed to Palestinians.
The escalating violence underscores the ongoing tensions in the region, as both sides face increasing casualties in a conflict that continues to disrupt lives and communities. The situation remains fluid, with military operations and responses ongoing in the wake of these tragic events.
