(Ariel) A Palestinian assailant on Tuesday killed three Israeli civilians in the occupied northern West Bank in a stabbing attack and then drove a car as he fled, also injuring several people before being shot dead, police said. responsible.
This violence erupted a few hours before the swearing in of the Israeli deputies elected to the legislative elections of 1er November, when the negotiations on the formation of a new government led by Benyamin Netanyahu, which could be the most right in the history of the country, continue.
The Israeli army reported a “knife attack” near the Ariel industrial zone. “A terrorist arrived at the entrance to the gate access to the area and stabbed civilians in this area,” an army statement said.
“Other civilians were stabbed at a nearby gas station. The terrorist fled in a stolen car, intentionally caused a car accident and hit another civilian,” the army added.
According to the Israeli emergency services, a 35-year-old man died after being stabbed and another aged 50 was killed in the car accident on a nearby road.
A third Israeli, seriously injured with a knife, died of his wounds, paramedics said.
Two other people with stab wounds were evacuated from the industrial zone and hospitalized.
The perpetrator of the attack was “neutralized” by a soldier who was in the area, the army said, telling AFP that the assailant was Palestinian.
Meanwhile, the Palestinian Health Ministry reported the death of 18-year-old Mohammed Mourad Sami Souf by Israeli bullets in that area, without further details.
After the attack, the Israeli army carried out a raid on his home in the village of Hares, near Ariel, an AFP journalist noted.
” Death sentence ”
Violence has intensified in recent months in the West Bank, a Palestinian territory occupied by Israel since 1967.
The Israeli army has increased raids through this territory, in the wake of deadly anti-Israeli attacks. These operations, and the clashes that are sometimes associated with them, have killed more than 120 Palestinians, the heaviest toll in seven years, according to the UN.
The attack comes as negotiations for a new government in Israel continue.
Stakeholders in these discussions, two figures from the far right – who won a record number of seats in Parliament in the legislative elections of 1er November (14) – plead for Israeli forces to use more force against “terrorism”.
On Tuesday, the leader of the “Religious Zionism” list, Bezalel Smotrich, said that the attack in the West Bank was “a painful reminder of the most important subject on the table”.
“We need to bring back security for all Israelis,” he tweeted.
“Three Jews were killed this morning in a despicable attack. This is a signal for the future government: we must adopt the death penalty for terrorists, which will put an end to terrorism,” tweeted MP Ben Gvir.