Tragic Ramming and Stabbing Incident Claims Two Lives in Israel

Sat Dec 27 2025 17:11:05 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

A suspected coordinated attack in northern Israel has left two individuals dead, highlighting ongoing conflicts in the region. The incident has prompted swift military responses and widespread concerns about security.

In a tragic event described by authorities as a 'rolling terror attack', two people were killed, including a 68-year-old man, in northern Israel. Following the ramming of a pedestrian in Beit Shean, the assailant continued to stab another victim before being stopped by a civilian. The attacker, an illegal worker from the West Bank, has sparked a military response from Israeli forces, raising tensions further in the region.

Two people have been killed in what police say was a 'rolling terror attack' in northern Israel.

Police reported that the attacker ran over a pedestrian in the eastern city of Beit Shean before proceeding to stab a victim near Ein Harod, approximately 12.5 km to the west. The suspect was eventually shot by a civilian near the city of Afula, as stated by the police.

Shimshon Mordechai, a 68-year-old man, died from the ramming incident, while a 16-year-old boy sustained injuries. The 18-year-old stabbing victim has been identified as Aviv Maor.

Authorities identified the attacker as a 37-year-old man from Qabatiya, a village in the northern occupied West Bank, according to Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz.

Following the attack, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) indicated plans for an operation in the Qabatiya area, with Katz demanding immediate and forceful action. The suspect had allegedly entered Israel illegally and used his employer's vehicle for the attack.

The incident comes shortly after a contentious event where an Israeli reservist was dismissed for ramming a Palestinian man on a quad bike, raising further concerns about escalating violence in the area.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu extended his condolences to the victims' families and commended the civilian who intervened during the attack. This resurgence of violence is amid increased tensions following widespread incidents reported between Israeli settlers and Palestinians.

Reports indicate that attacks by Israeli settlers on Palestinians have surged in recent years, with thousands of deaths linked to ongoing conflict since the Hamas attacks on October 7, 2023. This tragic incident amplifies the cycle of violence affecting both communities.

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