The IDF’s chief of staff has ordered a reinforcement of troop deployments in Israel’s Central Command region after two people were killed in what police called a "rolling terror attack" on 26 December.
The attacker, identified as Palestinian Ahmad Abu al-Rub, 37, from Qabatiya in the West Bank and who is believed to have been working illegally in Israel, ran over a pedestrian in the northern city of Beit Shean before driving on for roughly ten miles to Ein Harod kibbutz and stabbing a woman, police said.
Shimshon Mordechai, a 68-year-old man, was killed and a 16-year-old boy was hurt in the car ramming attack, while the stabbing victim was Aviv Maor, aged 18.
Abu al-Rub was shot and wounded by a civilian and detained at the entrance to the city of Afula.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wrote on X after the attack: "My wife Sarah and I send our deepest condolences to the families of those murdered in the combined attack in the north, the late Aviv Maor, 17, and the late Shimshon Mordechai, 68."
IDF Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir responded by ordering more troops to the Central Command region, one of the IDF’s four regional commands, responsible for about a third of Israel’s territory.
Zamir said: “We have just experienced a severe terrorist attack in which two civilians were killed. The IDF shares in the families’ grief and stands alongside them in this difficult time.
"This terrorist attack underscores the responsibility of the IDF to learn, draw lessons, and strengthen the defence of Israel’s civilians, in the West Bank and across all arenas.
"Our primary objective is clear – to continue preventing and stopping terrorism before it materialises."
As well as troop reinforcement, Zamir also announced encirclement measures, a closure and the pursuit of potential accomplices and other terrorists in the Qabatiya area of the West Bank.
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said security forces were imposing a "complete siege and cordon” on Qabatiya.
"We will continue to lead an uncompromising offensive policy against Palestinian terrorism in the terror camps in the West Bank. Whoever provides backing and shelter to terrorism will pay the full price."
After a joint investigation by Yamam counterterror police force and the Shin Bet, two of the Abu al-Rub’s brothers were arrested on Saturday night in an agricultural building in Arraba, Galilee, according to the Times of Israel.
Abu al-Rub is currently in custody.
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