One person was critically injured Wednesday morning after a gas tanker driven by a Palestinian man struck a pedestrian at a bus stop along Route 60 near the settlement of Beit El in the Binyamin region of Judea and Samaria.
Video: Footage of the truck ramming
Security forces responded swiftly, neutralizing the terrorist, who was later identified as 58-year-old Hail Issa Abd Al-Gaber Dif Allah from Rafat. Eyewitnesses described a harrowing scene as the truck suddenly accelerated towards the bus stop, hitting it with significant force. Soldiers stationed nearby opened fire on the vehicle, bringing it to a halt. Authorities are investigating whether the tanker may have been rigged with explosives, adding an additional layer of concern to the incident.
The attack prompted a large-scale emergency response. Firefighters cordoned off the area due to the potential hazard posed by the tanker's cargo.
Magen David Adom emergency medical service dispatched ambulances to the scene. One paramedic described finding "a young man lying unconscious with multiple traumatic injuries" near the damaged bus stop.
Video: The scene of the truck ramming attack / Credit: Rescuers withour borders
The attack has reignited debates over security measures in Judea and Samaria. Israel Gantz, who heads the Binyamin Regional Council, criticized what he sees as insufficient preventative measures. "We've been calling for increased checkpoints and restrictions on Palestinian movement on these roads," Gantz said. "This attack demonstrates the urgent need for such measures to protect Israeli citizens."
Minister Orit Struck echoed these sentiments, calling for the reinstatement of checkpoints that were in place immediately after the Oct. 7 attacks. "This is a matter of common sense, not politics," Strock argued. "We need to prioritize the safety of travelers on these roads."
