The Islamic State (ISIS) terror organization claimed responsibility for the terror attack in the city of Hadera on Sunday night, in which two Israelis were murdered and another 12 were injured. The two terrorists – Israeli Arab cousins identified by Israeli intelligence as local ISIS operatives – were killed by counterterrorism officers who happened to be dining in a restaurant nearby.
The attack came as top US and Arab diplomats visit the Jewish state for an unprecedented regional meeting, the countries having just normalised relations after decades of animosity. This was murder for the sake of murder and terror for the sake of terror,” Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid said alongside ministers from Bahrain, Egypt, Morocco, the UAE and US, adding that “the terrorist goal is to intimidate us.”
J-Wire Border Police officers Shirel Abukaret, 19 of Netanya, and Yazan Fallah, a 19-year-old from the Druze village of Kasra-Smia in the Galilee, were shot and killed by two Islamic terrorists who randomly fired at Israeli in the northern city of Hadera. Fallah enlisted about a year ago and Abukaret about six months ago. Fallah was survived by his parents, and a brother and sister. Abukaret left behind parents and a brother.
“The soldiers fought heroically, we share their grief and embrace the families of the late heroes Yazan and Shirel who physically defended civilians and thus saved many lives. A highly motivated young man and woman who gave their lives for the security of the citizens of Israel,” the Border Police stated.
Five of the victims wounded in the attack were still hospitalized at the Hillel Yaffe Medical Center in Hadera on Monday. One of the victims is in very serious, one is in moderate condition, and two are in light condition, the hospital updated. A total of 12 wounded were treated at the hospital, of whom seven were treated in the emergency room and released to their home.
The two terrorists, Ibrahim and Ayman Agbaria, cousins from Umm al-Fahm, one of whom was charged in 2016 with attempting to join ISIS, were killed by a Special Forces unit that happened to be nearby. Both terrorists have Israeli citizenship.
They were armed with three handguns, three knives, cartridges and packages of bullets, body armor and other equipment, and apparently used weapons they took from their victims.
The main line of investigation is that the two were inspired by ISIS, similar to the Bedouin terrorist who murdered four Israelis last week in a terrorist attack in Be’er Sheva. He had been imprisoned in Israel for his support for ISIS.
Security tensions in Israel are high, after a series of terror attacks in the Jerusalem area and the murder of four Israelis in Be’er Sheva by an Islamist terrorist, and ahead of the Muslim month of Ramadan, which usually spells an uptick in Muslim violence and acts of terrorism in Israel.
More details on the attack, just as top diplomats from four Arab nations and the U.S. are joining together in Israel for an historic summit to counter the threat from Iran.
Az gal says
God bless the IDF.
Charles Black says
All who raise a weapon against Israel will die. Only fools think they can take on Israel.
BLR says
what ever rules of engagement Israel has they better take it to the next level … young soldiers should not have to keep dying over bad front line diplomacy … To the young Warriors may Gods Paradise be your home
Linda Rivera says
AMEN!