4-7-2024 (TEL AVIV) An Israeli soldier was killed and another person wounded in a suspected terror attack at a shopping centre in northern Israel on Wednesday. The assault, which took place in the city of Karmiel, has left the nation on high alert and raised concerns about escalating violence.
The alleged assailant, identified by local media as Joud Rabia from the town of Nahaf, was fatally shot during the attack. Nahaf is known to be home to members of Israel’s Arab minority, adding a layer of complexity to the already fraught situation.
Closed-circuit television footage from the mall, broadcast by Israel’s Channel 12, captured the chilling moment of the attack. The images showed two men in Israeli military uniform walking through the shopping centre when a man in a blue T-shirt rushed up from behind, stabbing one soldier in the neck area before turning on the second individual.
The terrorist attack in Karmiel today resulted in one life tragically lost. Thankfully, the IDF is everywhere and always prepared.
In any Western country, an attack like this would result in a much larger bloodbath. Being ready is immensely important. pic.twitter.com/5ky8uIUOpn
— ???????????????? ???????????????? ♛ ✡︎ (@NiohBerg) July 3, 2024
The Israeli defence ministry later identified the fallen soldier as 19-year-old Sergeant Aleksandr Iakiminskyi. Emergency services pronounced him dead upon arrival at the hospital, while the second victim is currently receiving treatment for their injuries.
While no group has officially claimed responsibility for the attack, the militant organisation Palestinian Islamic Jihad lauded it as a “heroic operation” in a post on the messaging platform Telegram.
This incident occurs against the backdrop of heightened tensions in the region. Israel continues its military offensive in Gaza, launched in response to the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on 7 October. Concurrently, violence in the Israeli-occupied West Bank has seen a marked increase, with more frequent Israeli military raids, settler violence, and Palestinian street attacks.
The stabbing in Karmiel follows a series of recent violent incidents, including a Palestinian vehicle ramming attack in central Israel in January that resulted in one fatality and left 12 others injured.
