Two killed in stabbing and suspected car-ramming in northern Israel | Israel

A Palestinian driver ran over a man and stabbed a woman in northern Israel, killing them both, Israeli emergency services said.

Israeli police said the attacker, who came from the occupied West Bank, was shot and wounded by a civilian at the scene on Friday and was taken to hospital.

“This was an ongoing terrorist attack,” they added.

Israeli defense minister Israel Katz said he had instructed the army to respond strongly in the West Bank town of Kabatiya, where the attacker came from, to prevent further attacks.

It is normal for Israel to raid the cities in the West Bank, where the attackers come from, and destroy the homes of families. Israel says this helps identify militant infrastructure and prevent future attacks. Rights watchdogs say such actions amount to collective punishment.

The Israeli army said it was “preparing for an operation” in the region.

Israel’s ambulance service confirmed that a man and woman were pronounced dead at the scene after paramedics were unable to resuscitate them. It was stated that a young person was also injured in the attack.

Meanwhile, an Israeli reservist was reported to be under house arrest on Friday after he crashed his car into a Palestinian man who was praying on the side of the road in the occupied West Bank on Thursday.

The Israeli army said the reservist acted in “serious violation of his authority” and that his weapon was confiscated and his service was terminated. The man who was hit was checked into hospital but was uninjured and is now home.

According to the UN, more than 1,000 Palestinians were killed in the West Bank between October 7, 2023 and October 17, 2025; most of them were killed in security force operations and some during settler violence. During the same period, 57 Israelis were killed in Palestinian attacks.