In a tragic incident deemed as a terrorist stabbing attack by the police, an elderly man lost his life and four others were left injured in the northern Israeli city of Haifa. The incident took place at the bustling HaMifratz Central train and bus station, where security guards fatally shot the attacker on the scene.
Magen David Adom ambulance service confirmed that the victim, approximately 70 years old, succumbed to the attack, while a 15-year-old boy and two individuals in their 30s were gravely wounded. Additionally, a 70-year-old woman suffered moderate injuries. The police investigation revealed that the attacker was an Israeli Druze man from the town of Shfaram, who had recently returned from abroad. Attacks by members of Israel’s Druze community are extremely rare.
The Druze, an ethnic and religious group with roots in Shia Islam, comprise around 1.5% of the Israeli population, with approximately 150,000 residing in Israel and the occupied Golan Heights. According to eyewitness accounts, the attacker traveled to Haifa on a bus from Shfaram and initiated the stabbing spree upon arrival at the station. He then continued his assault on other passengers in the concourse area.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed his deepest condolences to the family of the deceased and vowed to continue fighting those who seek to harm Israel, stating that they will ultimately be defeated. Although no immediate claim was made by any armed groups, Hamas condemned the attack as a heroic and justified response to perceived Israeli crimes against Palestinians.
This incident transpired amidst ongoing deadlock between Hamas and Israel regarding the extension of the six-week-old Gaza ceasefire deal. Israel halted aid to Gaza after Hamas supposedly rejected a US proposal for an extension to the first phase, which concluded on Saturday night. In response, Hamas accused Israel of reneging on the agreement and urged for the second phase to go ahead as originally planned.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cgm1jl2g4lwo
