Tel Aviv Car Attack Leaves Several Injured, Suspect Neutralized
In a shocking incident near a shopping center in Tel Aviv, a car rammed into pedestrians, causing injuries to at least seven individuals. Following the collision, the driver got out of the vehicle and proceeded to stab civilians with a sharp object, as stated by officials on Tuesday.
The attack took place just a day after Israeli forces conducted an operation in the city of Jenin in the occupied West Bank, resulting in the martyrdom of at least ten Palestinians. The military operation in Jenin is currently in its second day.
According to Israeli police, the suspect was swiftly “neutralized” at the scene by a civilian. In response to the attack, the Palestinian group Hamas praised the assailant’s actions, hailing it as a “heroic” response to the Israeli forces’ actions in the Jenin camp.
Authorities have reported that the driver in Tel Aviv intentionally targeted pedestrians on a busy shopping street. The suspect, identified as a resident of the West Bank, was fatally shot by an armed civilian passerby, according to Police Chief Yaakov Shabtai.
The incident occurred amid the ongoing Israeli military operation in Jenin, which involved a substantial deployment of troops, drone strikes, and the use of army bulldozers. The operation resulted in the deaths of ten Palestinians, the arrest of over 100 individuals, and the displacement of thousands from their homes.
Qasem Benighader, a nurse at a local hospital morgue, described the Jenin raid as the worst in the past five years. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that the operation aimed to destroy command centers and seize significant weaponry in the densely populated Jenin camp.
The escalating conflict has led to a general strike in Jenin, with shuttered shops and near-empty streets strewn with debris and burned roadblocks. Israeli forces have apprehended 120 Palestinian suspects and stated that they do not intend to maintain a permanent presence in the camp but are prepared for extended confrontations.
The recent period has witnessed a surge in attacks on Israelis and incidents of settler violence targeting Palestinians in the northern West Bank. The Israel-Palestinian conflict has worsened in recent times, further exacerbated by the Netanyahu coalition government’s inclusion of extreme-right allies.
Approximately 3,000 individuals have fled their homes in the refugee camp, seeking refuge in schools and other shelters, according to Kamal Abu al-Roub, the deputy governor of Jenin.
The United Nations expressed deep concern over the violence and called for respect of international humanitarian law. The military operation in the refugee camp has disrupted water and electricity supplies, affecting a significant portion of the camp’s 18,000 inhabitants.
Residents of the area, like Imad Jabarin, who have been forced to leave their homes, described the destruction of all aspects of life, including the loss of electricity and communication. They feel cut off from the rest of the world.
Protesters in the Israeli-blockaded Gaza Strip burned tires near the border fence with Israel in a show of solidarity.
The West Bank has been under Israeli occupation since the Six-Day War in 1967. With the exception of annexed East Jerusalem, the territory currently accommodates approximately 490,000 Israeli settlers in settlements deemed illegal under international law.
The Palestinians, aspiring for their own independent state, demand the complete withdrawal of Israel from all land seized in 1967 and the dismantling of Jewish settlements.
Prime Minister Netanyahu, however, has pledged to strengthen settlements and displayed no interest in reviving peace talks, which have remained stagnant since 2014.
So far this year, the ongoing conflict has resulted in the deaths of at least 188 Palestinians, 25 Israelis, one Ukrainian, and one Italian, according to official sources from both sides, as compiled by AFP.
Published in PakWeb, July 04, 2023.
Stay informed and engaged with the PakWeb by following us on Facebook, Twitter, and participating in our Discussion Forums.