Two Palestinian Relatives from Hebron, Illegally Working in Israel, Arrested in Wake of Rampage

In a brazen act of violence, two Palestinians from the Hebron area, recently employed in Ra’anana’s industrial zone, have been arrested following a terror attack that left one woman dead and at least 17 others injured.

Central District Police Commander Avi Bitton confirmed both attackers were in Israel illegally and orchestrated the attacks at three different city locations using several commandeered cars.

Bitton described the incident as “a very grave terror attack.” He detailed the swift apprehension of the first perpetrator, followed by the capture of the second assailant shortly after.

Raanana, central Israel. https://t.co/vEHn7v0LQm pic.twitter.com/4OzydNLu2W

January 15, 2024

The combined ramming and stabbing attack was perpetrated by two relatives from Hebron, Muhammad Zaidat, 44, and Ahmed Zaidat, 24. Israel Police confirmed the sequence of events involving a stabbing and multiple ramming incidents across the city.

The attackers, who were later apprehended, initiated their spree with a stabbing that claimed the life of a woman in her 70s. Concurrently, another assailant hijacked a car and embarked on a ramming rampage across several city locations, changing vehicles again and again after each crash, Israeli police reported.

In one of the attacks on Haroshet Street, two individuals were injured after being run over, and a 66-year-old man was gravely stabbed. The main street of the city, Ahuza Street, became another focal point of the attack, where an additional fifteen people suffered varying degrees of injuries. Among them, a 34-year-old man and a 16-year-old boy were severely wounded with head injuries. Seven of the injured were children.

An eyewitness, Eden Alfi, recounted to Maariv the initial confusion at the scene. Alfi described hearing two cars collide and initially mistaking the incident for a car accident, only to realize the gravity of the situation when someone alerted him to the attack. He witnessed the stabbing of a man around 60 years old, followed by the assailant fleeing the scene.

The aftermath of this assault paints a grim picture: three victims are in serious condition, seven in moderate condition, and five sustained minor injuries. This incident has prompted a rigorous investigation by the police and the Shin Bet security agency, delving into the backgrounds and possible connections of Muhammad and Ahmed Zaidat to terror networks.