An elderly Israeli woman died and 17 others sustained injuries on Monday after two Palestinian terrorists carried out an attack that included car-ramming and stabbings in the central Israel city of Ra’anana.
Two Palestinians from the West Bank, who were illegally working at a car wash in Israel, hijacked three vehicles and rammed multiple pedestrians throughout the city. The prime suspects, whom Israeli police detained and identified as Ahmed Zidat, 25, and Mahmoud Zidad, 44, also stabbed one or more of their victims during the attack, the Times of Israel reported.
The local police chief provided several details in the aftermath of the incident, including that both suspects were arrested and questioned by Israel’s internal security service, Shin Bet. The police also indicated they were searching the area to determine whether any other suspects were involved.
The woman, later named as Edna Bluestein, 79, was found in critical condition and died at a hospital near Ra’anana. She was reportedly hit by one of the terrorists driving a car, as were at least seven children and teenagers who were dismissed from school for the day. The attack began around 1:30 p.m. local time Monday.
79-year-old Edna Blustein was murdered today in a terror attack in Ra’anana, Israel.
The terrorist – working in Israel – stabbed and then rammed pedestrians with cars he hijacked.
20 were injured.
How will this bring an end to the war or freedom to Palestinians? pic.twitter.com/liAqKecew9— Elad Simchayoff (@Elad_Si) January 15, 2024
A 16-year-old boy was in surgery due to a head injury, and six other children ages 10-16 were in “mild to moderate” condition, a pediatrician said, according to CNN.
Hamas, while hailing the perpetrators as “heroes of our people,” said the attack was “a natural response to the occupation’s massacres and its continued aggression against our Palestinian people” and called for further attacks on Israel. The terror group did not claim responsibility for the Monday attack.
Tensions between Israelis and Palestinians and casualties continue to mount as the Israel-Hamas war just passed its 100-day mark this week. Since the conflict began on October 7, an estimated 300 West Bank Palestinians have been killed.