At least one person has lost his life and up to 30 people have been reported injured in a truck attack at a bus stop in a place near an Israeli military base north of Tel Aviv. The attack, suspected by Israeli authorities as a terror attack, came around 10:00 local time yesterday at Glilot Junction, just north of Tel Aviv.
Eyewitnesses reveal that the truck collided with several dozens of people exiting from a bus. Majority of the injured persons happened to be elderly citizens of that region who were in for a day-long outing at a nearby museum. Eight of the injured were lying beneath the vehicle, whereas the others were reportedly sprawled nearby in shock or to assist the injured people.
This implies, as claimed by Israel’s emergency
Service Magen David Adom (MDA), that the truck made much ado in the scene, posing a challenging scenario for the paramedics involved in their profession, primarily due to the high number of casualties and the situation at the site.
The truck driver was identified as Rami Natur, an Arab Israeli from Qalansawe, a central Israel town. He was shot dead at the scene by a civilian present during the attack.
Accounts from the witnesses recreate the horror scene.
An eyewitness, retiree Yechiel Ben Moshe, told the local media how he witnessed the tragic event. “We were a group of retirees who came to visit a museum and attend a lecture in Glilot. Our bus had just stopped, and people started getting off when a truck suddenly came out of nowhere from behind and made this massive crash.”.
Moshe said that at first, the situation seemed accidental, but soon, gunfire started coming in, and he confirmed that it was an attack. “Around me, people were injured, bleeding, and others were in total shock,” Moshe added, describing the terrifying scene.
Political Reactions and Growing Security Concerns
National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, the head of the Israeli police, was quick in response by demanding the deportation of the suspect’s family from Israel. The incident has reignited concern about the internal security threat because Israel is still engaged on several military fronts with Gaza and Lebanon.
This attack reflects a greater issue that the Israeli authorities are facing in their quest to prevent attacks by persons living in Israel who have used vehicles as weapons. Authorities are currently enhancing their security measures and are investigating the suspect’s background for any possible links to terror groups.
Context and Impact
The incident adds to the already charged security environment in Israel, where the military has been involved in a series of battles across borders. The attack also raises considerable questions about how to engage with internal security threats and protect civilians from similar incidents in public spaces.
Israeli emergency services said that all the injured were taken to nearby hospitals for treatment. Local security officials are enhancing patrols in crowded areas and near military installations after the attack. Further updates will be provided as the authorities continue their investigation into this incident.