PALESTINIAN MAN KILLS 2 IN NORTHERN ISRAEL CAR AND KNIFE ATTACK, POLICE SAY. (PHOTO).

 Palestinian man kills 2 in northern Israel car and knife attack, police say

 A Palestinian man killed two people in northern Israel on Friday in a car-ramming and stabbing attack, prompting an immediate military response from Israel targeting the assailant’s West Bank hometown.

The attack began in Beit Shean, where the suspect drove into pedestrians, killing one man and wounding a teenage boy. He then sped onto a highway and fatally stabbed a young woman, injuring another person near the entrance to Afula, where authorities shot the attacker. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu identified the victims as Aviv Maor, a teenager, and Shimshon Mordechai, 68, both pronounced dead at the scene.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog condemned the “horrific killing spree,” emphasizing efforts to strengthen border security and protect residents. Following the attack, Israel’s military mobilized near Qabatiya, the West Bank town where the assailant was from. Defense Minister Israel Katz said he had ordered troops to target “terrorist infrastructure” in the town and warned that anyone aiding terrorism would “pay the full price.”

Israel routinely conducts raids in attackers’ hometowns or demolishes family homes, citing the need to disrupt militant networks and prevent further attacks. Human rights groups, however, describe these actions as collective punishment. Recent weeks have seen multiple operations in Qabatiya, including a Dec. 20 incident in which Israeli forces shot a young man who allegedly threw a block at soldiers; the killing is now under review after video footage raised questions about the circumstances.

The attack comes amid ongoing violence linked to the Israel-Hamas war, which began with the Hamas assault on southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, leaving roughly 1,200 Israelis dead and 251 taken hostage. The conflict has killed tens of thousands in Gaza and fueled a surge of attacks in Israel and the West Bank, with violence from both Palestinian militants and Israeli settlers. Previous attacks include a September shooting at a Jerusalem bus stop that killed six people and injured 12.