Palestinian Car‑Ram and Stabbing Attack Kills Two Israelis, Triggers IDF Raid on Qabatiya
Updated (4 articles)
Rolling Attack in Beit She’an and Afula Leaves Two Dead On 26 December 2025 a Palestinian man rammed a pedestrian in Beit She’an and then drove to Afula where he fatally stabbed a young woman, killing both victims. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu identified the deceased as 68‑year‑old Shimshon Mordechai and 17‑year‑old Aviv Maor [1][2][3]. A 16‑year‑old boy was injured in the ramming and another person was wounded in the stabbing.
Attacker Shot After Civilian Intervention Near Afula A civilian bystander confronted the assailant in Afula and shot him, wounding the attacker who was later taken to a hospital in moderate condition [1][3]. Police confirmed the attacker was a Palestinian illegal resident who had entered Israel days earlier. Netanyahu praised the civilian’s actions in a post on X, calling the intervention decisive [1].
IDF Launches Large‑Scale Raid on Qabatiya Defence Minister Israel Katz ordered the Israeli Defence Forces to conduct a precise operation in the attacker’s hometown of Qabatiya in the northern West Bank. Troops surrounded the town, closed roads and began house‑to‑house searches, with plans to demolish the suspect’s residence and target “terrorist infrastructure” [2][3]. The raid involved dozens of soldiers and road closures throughout the area [2].
Political Reactions Emphasize Tougher Penalties and Regional Moves Far‑right minister Itamar Ben Gvir called for a death‑penalty law for terrorists in response to the attack [3]. In a separate diplomatic development, Israel announced its first recognition of Somaliland, a move condemned by Egypt and framed as part of broader Abraham Accords‑style outreach [2].
UN Reports Surge in West Bank Violence Amid Ongoing War The United Nations noted more than 1,000 Palestinian deaths in the West Bank since the Oct 7 2023 Hamas attacks, while Gaza’s death toll exceeds 70,600 according to the Hamas‑run health ministry [1].
Sources
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BBC: Two killed in suspected Palestinian ramming and knife attack in Israel – Details the attack, names the victims, identifies the suspect from Qabatiya, notes his illegal work in Israel, cites Netanyahu’s praise of the civilian, reports €7 million raised for a militant group, and highlights UN statistics on West Bank and Gaza casualties .
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AP: Palestinian attacker kills two in Beit Shean and Afula, triggering West Bank raid – Adds that the Israeli military launched a large‑scale operation in Qabatiya, describes road closures and demolition plans, and links the incident to Israel’s first recognition of Somaliland and the broader U.S.‑brokered ceasefire framework .
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CNN: Two Israelis killed in Palestinian car‑ramming and stabbing attack in northern Israel – Emphasizes the attacker’s infiltration days earlier, reports the civilian confrontation, includes Defence Minister Katz’s order to act against terrorist infrastructure, and records Far‑right minister Ben Gvir’s call for a death‑penalty law .
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CNN: IDF shoots West Bank teen at close range; video shows moment of firing in Qabatiya – Provides video‑verified evidence of a 16‑year‑old Palestinian, Rayan Muhammad Abdul Qader Abu Mualla, being shot at point‑blank range during a separate operation in Qabatiya, notes the Palestinian Red Crescent being blocked, and mentions the teen’s school closure and a parallel killing of a 22‑year‑old in Silat al‑Harathiya .
Timeline
Oct 7, 2023 – Hamas launches a large‑scale attack on Israel, igniting a war that later sees more than 1,000 Palestinians killed in the West Bank and Gaza’s death toll surpass 70,600, according to UN figures cited in later reports [1].
2025 (earlier in the year) – The United Nations reports a surge in Israeli‑settler violence in the West Bank, noting over 1,000 Palestinian deaths since the Oct 7, 2023 war began [1].
2025 (earlier in the year) – A U.S.‑brokered ceasefire framework, referenced in diplomatic discussions, stipulates that Palestinians will not be expelled from Gaza, shaping regional security talks [4].
Dec 21, 2025 – During an IDF operation in Qabatiya, soldiers shoot 16‑year‑old Rayan Muhammad Abdul Qader Abu Mualla at point‑blank range after he approaches two soldiers; video released by CNN shows the moment of fire, while the Palestinian Red Crescent reports Israeli troops block emergency access and his school closes in his memory [3].
Dec 21, 2025 – In a separate raid the IDF kills 22‑year‑old Ahmed Saed Ziyoud in Silat al‑Harathiya after he allegedly hurls an explosive toward soldiers, with Islamic Jihad’s military wing labeling him a fighter [3].
Dec 26, 2025 – A Palestinian attacker from Qabatiya carries out a rolling terror attack, ramming a 68‑year‑old pedestrian in Beit She’an and then stabbing 18‑year‑old Aviv Maor near Ein Harod; both victims die at the scene while a 16‑year‑old boy is injured [1],[2],[4].
Dec 26, 2025 – The assailant continues to Afula, where a civilian bystander confronts and shoots him, later being wounded himself; Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu posts on X praising the civilian’s intervention and offering condolences to the victims’ families [2].
Dec 26, 2025 – Defence Minister Israel Katz orders a precise search of the attacker’s hometown, Qabatiya, announcing plans to demolish the suspect’s residence and warning that anyone aiding terrorism “will pay the full price” [2],[4].
Dec 26, 2025 – Far‑right minister Itamar Ben Gvir calls for a new death‑penalty law for terrorists, citing the Beit She’an‑Afula attack as justification for harsher penalties [2].
Dec 26, 2025 – Israel becomes the first country to recognize Somaliland, issuing a joint declaration in the spirit of the Abraham Accords; Egypt’s foreign ministry rejects the move, emphasizing support for Somalia’s sovereignty [4].
Dec 26, 2025 – The UN notes continued West Bank violence and confirms Gaza’s death toll exceeds 70,600, underscoring the broader humanitarian crisis amid ongoing hostilities [1].
Future (post‑Dec 26, 2025) – Israeli forces plan to demolish the attacker’s house in Qabatiya as part of the operation announced by Defence Minister Katz [4].
Future (ongoing) – The U.S.‑brokered ceasefire framework remains a reference point for diplomatic efforts, with its provisions on non‑expulsion of Gaza’s population influencing subsequent negotiations [4].
External resources (5 links)
- https://t.me/idfofficial/16169 (cited 1 times)
- https://x.com/News_Westbank/status/2002435068632182800?s=20 (cited 1 times)
- https://x.com/News_Westbank/status/2002478524918054965?s=20 (cited 1 times)
- https://x.com/yaffa_ps/status/2002431390152077773 (cited 1 times)
- https://www.un.org/unispal/document/ohchr-press-release-17oct25/ (cited 1 times)