Jerusalem
CNN
—
At least three Israeli were killed and three others injured when a Palestinian man raged near an Israeli settlement in the occupied West Bank on Tuesday.
The attack took place in multiple locations near the Israeli settlement of Ariel. The Israel Defense Forces and Israel’s Magen David Adom (MDA) rescue service said a man first approached the security checkpoint at the entrance to the Ariel industrial park and stabbed someone there, before stabbing someone there, before ran to a nearby gas station, where he stabbed two more Israelis. One was pronounced dead at the scene while the other later died from their injuries.
The IDF said the attacker then stole a car and began driving on the highway, causing a series of crashes that killed another Israeli. After the collision, the attacker went out and stabbed several more people, before an IDF soldier present at the scene shot and killed him, the IDF said.
Tuesday’s deadly attacks bring the death toll on the Israeli side of the conflict with the Palestinians to 28 this year. That equates to the number of people killed in 2015, the year of the so-called stabbing intifada, and makes it the bloodiest year for Israel since, according to Israel Security Service data.
This year is also the bloodiest year for Palestinians in the West Bank since 2015. At least 146 Palestinian civilians and militants have been killed in the West Bank by 2022, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry.
Israel claims most of the Palestinians killed were suspected militants targeted in the attacks or engaged in violence against its military, but dozens of unarmed civilians have also been killed. arrested, according to human rights groups.
The Palestinian Health Ministry identified the attacker as 19-year-old Muhammad Murad Sami Souf, from the Palestinian village of Haris, not far from Ariel where the attack took place.
The IDF said searches were ongoing for a second person “suspected of aiding terrorism”.
Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid condemned the “cowardly terrorist” who carried out Tuesday’s attack.
“We are fighting terrorism non-stop and with the full force of the IDF, Shin Bet and all security forces. In recent times, we have succeeded in dismantling vast institutions and infrastructure, but we must wage this war every day again. Our security forces work around the clock to protect Israeli citizens and attack terrorist infrastructure anywhere and at any time,” the outgoing prime minister said in a statement. .
Tuesday’s attack came a day after Palestinian authorities said a 15-year-old girl was shot dead by Israeli soldiers while riding with a man, who was later arrested by security forces. hold.
According to the IDF, during a “counter-terrorist operation” in the West Bank town of Beitunia, soldiers identified a suspicious vehicle approaching them. The soldiers signaled the driver of the vehicle to stop, but he sped toward them. In response, the soldiers fired at the vehicle. The visit has been determined. The matter is under review.”
