In an incident on Tuesday, described as a vehicular terror attack, several individuals sustained injuries in Israel.
A 23-year-old Palestinian man in Tel Aviv deliberately drove his vehicle onto the sidewalk, targeting bystanders. Afterward, the assailant exited the vehicle and proceeded to stab the victims with a knife, as reported by the police.
Tel Aviv Police District Commander Ami Eshed stated, “We understand that he acted alone, and there is no doubt that this was an attack.” The police are actively investigating whether the assailant had any accomplices. Despite the gravity of the situation, the current status is reported to be stable, according to the officer.
Abed Khalila, identified by officials as the assailant, is reported to be from the Palestinian village of As-Samu near Hebron, according to Israel’s Shin Bet security services. At the scene of the attack, Khalila was reportedly shot and killed by a civilian bystander.
Eight individuals suffered injuries, with one 46-year-old woman sustaining severe stab wounds and being evacuated to a nearby hospital, as reported by officials.
Hamas issued a statement praising the terror attack, describing it as “heroic” and mourning Khalila as a “martyr fighter.”
In an earlier statement, Hamas referred to the attack as the “first response” to Israeli military actions in the West Bank.
According to a report from Haaretz, Hamas spokesperson Hazem Kassem stated that the “heroic action” in Tel Aviv was a direct response to Israel’s actions against the Palestinian people in the Jenin refugee camp. Kassem emphasized that Israel would face consequences for its crimes, as expressed by the Palestinian resistance.
On Sunday night, the Israeli military conducted an attack on a Palestinian militant stronghold in the West Bank, deploying numerous troops and drones. Military officials anticipate that the approximately 2,000 troops will stay in the city of Jenin for approximately 48 hours following the commencement of the operation.
The conflict on Sunday primarily took place around a mosque in Jenin, which had been converted into a base of operations. Israeli forces conducted a search on the lower floors of the mosque where militants had fortified themselves. During the search, they discovered two concealed areas containing explosive devices, weapons, and military equipment associated with terrorist organizations.
According to Palestinian officials, the attack resulted in the deaths of at least eight individuals, with 50 others sustaining injuries. This operation was reported to be larger in scale compared to any previous Israeli military action conducted this year.
For several months, Jenin has been a hub of Palestinian terrorist activity, marked by incidents of attacks orchestrated by militants with Iranian backing, targeting Israel.
