Two people have been killed in what police describe as a rolling terror attack in northern Israel. The incident began in Beit Shean, where the assailant ran over a pedestrian before continuing to stab another victim several miles away.
The victims included 68-year-old Shimshon Mordechai and 18-year-old Aviv Maor, while a 16-year-old boy sustained injuries during the ramming. The suspect, who police confirm is a resident of Qabatiya in the northern West Bank, was confronted and shot by a civilian near Afula.
In response to the attack, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz has ordered military action in Qabatiya, indicating that the assailant had infiltrated Israeli territory days prior. Reports suggest he was illegally employed within Israel and exploited his employer's vehicle for the assault.
This incident follows a day of heightened tensions, including a separate incident involving an Israeli army reservist who was dismissed after being filmed driving a quad bike into a praying Palestinian.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu extended his condolences to the families of the victims and commended the civilian who neutralized the attacker. This attack occurs amid rising violence, with increasing assaults on Palestinians documented in recent months, reflecting an escalating cycle of conflict in the area.
