1 Israeli Killed, Several Wounded In ‘Terrorist Ramming Attack’

One person was killed in a car ramming attack in Israel’s central city of Raanana, north of Tel Aviv, on Monday. Seventeen people were also injured in the incident.

Woman killed and 17 injured after suspected car-ramming attack in Israel https://t.co/8ryAi9KrsX

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The person who lost her life in the attack, a 79-year-old woman, reportedly made it to the hospital. However, despite efforts to save her life at Meir hospital near Raanana, she succumbed to her injuries.

Confirming the death, the hospital said, “A wounded woman who arrived in a critical condition after having been hit by a vehicle has died of her injuries despite our efforts to save her.”

An Israeli police spokesperson, who referred to the incident as “a multiple car-ramming attack,” said that officers were sweeping through the areas affected to make sure there are no further threats.

According to Israeli police, the ramming attack was carried out by two Palestinians who reportedly stole multiple vehicles and ran people over in different places.

The woman who died from the attack was reportedly stabbed by one of the two men, who then stole her car and used it to ram into other people, according to Israeli media reports. The two then reportedly abandoned the car when they lost control of it and moved to a second car to continue their sinister agenda.

The suspects, 44-year-old Mahmoud Zidat and 25-year-old Ahmad Zidat, were reportedly arrested and are said to be relatives from the city of Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. According to police, they had both entered Israel illegally. How officials stopped and arrested them is however not clear, but the two allegedly switched between three stolen vehicles before they were apprehended.

The attack came a little over 100 days since the war between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas which was sparked by the terrorist group’s unprecedented attack against Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.

While the Zidat’s motives are still being investigated, Israeli police said they are treating the incident as a terrorist attack. The two have been praised by Hamas, who referred to them as “heroes.”

Without taking responsibility for the attack, the group reportedly hailed the men’s actions as “a natural response to the occupation’s massacres and aggression against the Palestinian people.”