An incident in northern Israel on Friday involved a Palestinian assailant who used his car to strike a man and then proceeded to stab a young woman, resulting in the deaths of both victims, according to authorities. Following the attack in Beit Shean, where the man initially hit pedestrians, causing the death of one man and injuring a teenage boy, he later fatally stabbed the woman on a highway. Emergency responders confirmed the deaths of the 68-year-old man and the 18-year-old woman at the scene.
The suspect was intercepted by a security officer while en route to Afula, as reported by Israeli President Isaac Herzog. Expressing shock over the “horrific killing spree,” Herzog emphasized Israel’s commitment to fortifying border security and enhancing safety measures for residents in the area.
In response, the Israeli military mobilized near the suspect’s hometown of Qabatiya in the West Bank, following orders from Defence Minister Israel Katz to take immediate and robust action against what he termed as the “terrorist infrastructure” in the town. Katz issued a stern warning that those supporting or enabling terrorism would face severe consequences.
Israel often conducts operations in West Bank towns linked to attackers or carries out measures like demolishing attackers’ family homes to dismantle militant networks and prevent future incidents, despite criticism from rights groups labeling such actions as collective punishment.
In a separate incident on Thursday, an Israeli reservist soldier reportedly rammed his vehicle into a Palestinian man praying on a roadside in the occupied West Bank after firing shots in the vicinity, according to the Israeli military. The soldier, identified as a reservist, had his military service terminated following the incident.
The Israeli police did not provide an immediate response to inquiries regarding the incident. The Palestinian man involved in the attack was unharmed and underwent medical checks at a hospital before returning home.
Between October 7, 2023, and October 17, 2025, over 1,000 Palestinians lost their lives in the West Bank, primarily due to security operations and sporadic settler violence, as reported by the UN. During the same period, 57 Israelis were killed in attacks by Palestinians.
In a separate event in September, Palestinian assailants carried out a shooting at a Jerusalem bus stop during the morning rush hour, resulting in the deaths of six individuals and injuring 12 others, according to Israeli officials.