A deadly attack in northern Israel on Friday resulted in the deaths of two civilians, leading to an immediate order for Israeli military retaliation in the West Bank. The incident underscores the heightened tensions and violence in the region since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza.
Details of the Deadly Assault
The attack unfolded in the city of Beit Shean on Friday afternoon. According to Israeli police, a Palestinian man deliberately rammed his car into pedestrians, killing a 68-year-old man and injuring a teenage boy. The assailant then fled the scene, speeding onto a nearby highway where he stabbed and killed an 18-year-old woman. Medical paramedics pronounced both victims dead at the locations of the attacks.
The attacker was reportedly heading toward the city of Afula when he was intercepted and shot by a security officer, as confirmed by Israeli President Isaac Herzog. Herzog described the event as a "horrific killing spree" and vowed to reinforce security in the area to protect residents.
Immediate Military Retaliation Ordered
In a swift response, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz identified the attacker's hometown as Qabatiya, a Palestinian town in the occupied West Bank. Katz ordered troops to amass near the town and "act forcefully and immediately" against what he labelled terrorist infrastructure there.
"Anyone who aids or sponsors terrorism will pay the full price," Katz stated. This action follows a common Israeli practice of launching raids in West Bank towns linked to attackers or demolishing family homes, a tactic Israel says deters future attacks but which rights groups condemn as collective punishment.
Broader Context of Rising Violence
This attack occurs amid a significant surge in violence across Israel and the West Bank since the war in Gaza began. The conflict has claimed tens of thousands of Palestinian lives and seen an increase in attacks by Palestinian militants as well as violence by Israeli settlers against Palestinians.
The incident echoes previous attacks, such as one in September when Palestinian gunmen opened fire at a Jerusalem bus stop during rush hour, killing six people and wounding 12 others. The ongoing cycle of violence continues to pose severe challenges for security and stability in the region.
