Tel Aviv

Kamel Mahmoud Abu Bakr

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Kamal Abu BakrAugust 05, 2023: Kamel Mahmoud Abu Bakr, 22, was shot and killed by an Israeli security guard in Tel Aviv after Kamal had been approached by another security guard, whom he allegedly shot and killed.

According to local sources, a Palestinian young man allegedly shot and killed one Israeli security guard, and injured two more Israelis in Tel Aviv, in the central coastal region of Israel.

The Times of Israel quoted Israeli Police Commissioner, Kobi Shabtai, who stated that two security officers approached a “suspect” who pulled out a handgun and opened fire, striking one of the security guards.

The Times of Israeli added that the uninjured security guard chased the man and returned fire. The officer was quoted as saying, “I chased after him and continued shooting until he fell to the ground.”

The injured security officer was identified as Chen Amir, 42. He was shot in the head and transported to hospital with critical injuries, which he succumbed to shortly thereafter.

The details of other injuries are unclear. The Times of Israel failed to mention other injuries, however Palestinian media reported three injuries in total.

It was added that the accused shooter was also transported to hospital after being shot multiple times, he was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.

The accused perpetrator of the shooting was identified as Kamal Abu Bakr, 22.

According to the Israeli Army Radio, Abu Bakr had been on the army’s “wanted list” for the past six months for allegedly opening fire at Israeli occupation forces in the West Bank.

Just a day before this, an illegal Israeli settler shot and killed a 19 year old Palestinian young man in the town of Burqa, east of Ramallah, in the central West Bank.

Kamal was from Rummanah village, northwest of Jenin, in the northern occupied West Bank. Source: IMEMC

Chen Amir

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Chen AmirAugust 05, 2023: Chen Amir, 42, an Israeli security guard in Tel Aviv, was shot in the head and transported to hospital with critical injuries, which he succumbed to shortly thereafter.

The alleged shooter was Kamal Abu Bakr, 22, who was chased, then shot and killed by another Israeli security guard in Tel Aviv.

According to local sources, a Palestinian young man allegedly shot and killed one Israeli security guard, and injured two more Israelis in Tel Aviv, in the central coastal region of Israel.

The Times of Israel quoted Israeli Police Commissioner, Kobi Shabtai, who stated that two security officers approached a “suspect” who pulled out a handgun and opened fire, striking one of the security guards.

The Times of Israeli added that the uninjured security guard chased the man and returned fire. The officer was quoted as saying, “I chased after him and continued shooting until he fell to the ground.”

The injured security officer was identified as Chen Amir, 42. He was shot in the head and transported to hospital with critical injuries, which he succumbed to shortly thereafter.

The details of other injuries are unclear. The Times of Israel failed to mention other injuries, however Palestinian media reported three injuries in total.

It was added that the accused shooter was also transported to hospital after being shot multiple times, he was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.

The accused perpetrator of the shooting was identified as Kamal Abu Bakr, 22.

According to the Israeli Army Radio, Abu Bakr had been on the army’s “wanted list” for the past six months for allegedly opening fire at Israeli occupation forces in the West Bank.

Just a day before this, an illegal Israeli settler shot and killed a 19 year old Palestinian young man in the town of Burqa, east of Ramallah, in the central West Bank.

Chen was from Tel Aviv. Source: IMEMC

Abdul-Wahab Khalayla

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July 04, 2023: Abdul-Wahab Khalayla, 20, was killed by an Israeli after he reportedly rammed several Israelis with his car and stabbed one pedestrian in Tel Aviv.

Israeli sources said nine Israelis were injured in what they dubbed a car-ramming and a stabbing attack by the Palestinian on Pinchas Rosen Street in Tel Aviv before the Palestinian was shot dead.

The Jerusalem Post said that, according to social media footage, Abdul-Wahab was killed after he ran over several Israelis with a car and stepped out of the vehicle before stabbing one in the neck.

The Jerusalem Post said an Israeli civilian at the scene fatally shot the Palestinian before paramedics arrived and started treating the wounded Israelis.

The Israeli Ynet News said a security camera footage shows the car the Palestinian was driving crashing into a bus stop, striking several Israelis, before he climbed out of the car window and chased onlookers while carrying a knife.

The Ynet quoted the police stating that the car veered onto the bicycle land and the sidewalk before striking pedestrians.

A video from the scene shows the Israeli executing the Palestinian by shooting at least three times, within a few seconds between each shot, after he was already shot and lying on the street bleeding.

Israeli daily Haaretz said one of the wounded Israelis is a pregnant woman, 46 years of age, who suffered serious wounds, two Israelis in their thirties sustained moderate wounds, and two were mildly injured due to the impact with the vehicle.

Israeli emergency services said that three Israelis suffered serious wounds, and four others with sustained bruises from the impact of the car.

Haaretz quoted Tel Aviv Police District Commander Ami Eshed stating that the incident was a deliberate attack and that the Palestinian appears to have acted alone, but the police are trying to find out if he was accompanied by anybody else.

Haaretz also said that, according to the Shin Bet security service, the Palestinian “entered Israel without a permit, and had no security background.”

Shortly afterwards, the police detained several Paletinians believed to be involved in the incident and said that Abdul-Wahab’s background and affiliations are currently under investigation.

A few hours after the incident, the abducted his father and his brothers who work inside the Greenline. 

The soldiers also closed the main entrances of the As-Samou’ town, south of Hebron, the hometown of the slain young man.

It is worth mentioning that the Israeli security agency first claimed Abdul-Wahhab’s brother, Hussein, was the slain Palestinian but later said the deceased is Abdul-Wahab.

Far right-wing Israeli “National security Minister” Itamar Ben-Gvir, who also led the fanatic Jewish Power Party, praised the Israeli who killed the Palestinian and described his as a hero.

The Hamas movement claimed that the Palestinian was one of its members and added that the attack comes in retaliation to the ongoing Israeli offensive in Jenin, in the northern part of the occupied West Bank.

The Islamic Jihad movement also said the attack is a natural response to the Israeli onslaught on Jenin.

On Tuesday dawn, Israeli soldiers killed a young Palestinian man, Odai Ibrahim Khamaisa, 22, in Jenin City, bringing the number of slain Palestinians in Jenin to ten on the second day of the Israeli offensive.

Khamaisa was the nineth Palestinian the soldiers kill in Jenin, after the army killed eight earlier Monday, in addition to wounding more than 100, twenty seriously.

The Palestinian Health Ministry identified the eight slain Palestinians as Samih Firas Abu Al-Wafa, 21, Aws Hani Hannoun, 19, Husam Mohammad Abu Theeba, 18, Noureddin Husam Marshoud, 16, Mohammad Mohannad Shami, 23, Ahmad Mohammad Al-Amer, 21, Ali Hani Al-Ghoul, 17, and Majdi Ar’arawi, 17.

The Israeli military spokesperson said Israel still has ten targets to achieve in its Jenin refugee camp offensive and said the soldiers have abducted about 120 young men.

In a press conference, the spokesperson said that the army estimated that there are 300 Palestinian fighters in Jenin and added that it has a list of names of about 160.

Hundreds of Palestinian families (approximately 3000 Palestinians) were displaced from their homes in the refugee camp and went to the nearby Jenin governmental hospital and mosques after the army ordered them to leave as it continues its offensive.

Israeli military bulldozers and missiles caused excessive damage to homes and buildings, and bulldozed streets, in addition to destroying cars, and blocking access to the refugee camp, and attacking ambulances, medics and journalists.

On Monday night, the Palestinian Health Ministry confirmed the death of a Palestinian teen, Mustafa Nidal Al-Qassem, 17, whom Israeli soldiers shot during the ongoing offensive on Jenin in the northern West Bank. The slain teen is the tenth Israeli soldier killed Monday; nine in Jenin and one near Ramallah.

Furthermore, the soldiers killed Mohammad Emad Hassanein, 21, at the entrance of the Al-Biereh city in the central West Bank.

Abdul-Wahab was from the As-Samou’ town, south of Hebron, in the occupied West Bank’s southern part. Source: IMEMC

Yousef Ahmad Abu Jaber

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April 07, 2023: Yousef ِAhmad Abu Jaber, 44, was killed in Tel Aviv after reportedly carrying out a car-ramming and shooting attack near a beach in Tel Aviv, killing an Italian citizen.

Israeli daily Haaretz said, “A police officer and a municipal ranger arrived at the scene, and as they noticed the attacker attempted to reach a rifle-like object that was with him, they shot at him and killed him.

According to a police source, no weapon was found in Jaber’s vehicle, but rather a toy gun.”

The Italian citizen, lawyer from Rome who was vacationing in Tel Aviv, has been idented as Alessandro Parini, 35.

Alessandro Parini

Israeli sources said five tourists were injured before the police killed the driver,

The Italian citizen, lawyer from Rome who was vacationing in Tel Aviv, Alessandro Parini, 35, was killed in a car-ramming and shooting attack near a beach in Tel Aviv.

Alessandro Parini

Israeli daily, Haaretz, said Parini, an Italian lawyer from Rome who was vacationing in Tel Aviv, was killed, and five tourists were injured in what is believed to be a ‘car-ramming and shooting attack’ near a beach in Tel Aviv before the police killed the attacker, 44, Yousef Abu Jaber, 44, a married father of five daughters from Kafr Qassem.

Haaretz also said that the incident occurred at about 21:35 Friday when the attacker drove on the bike lane of “Charles Clore Park,” hitting six pedestrians.

Three persons suffered moderate wounds, including a man, 74 years of age, and a teenage girl, 17, and that the two other wounded persons, a 50-year-old man and a woman, 70, suffered mild injuries. Some of the wounded were British and Italian citizens.

According to Haaretz, an eyewitness said a vehicle sped after and entered a gas station nearby the incident before gunshots were heard, and then the vehicle which was used in the incident turned rightwards and rolled over.

Yousef’s family said they were shocked to hear about the incident and added that they would have prevented this from happening if they had known anything in advance and that he was a very quiet, respectful person and never had any ideological way of thinking.

Yousef was an Israeli citizen from Kafr Qassem Arab town, about twenty kilometers east of Tel Aviv. Source: IMEMC

Alessandro Parini

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April 07, 2023: Alessandro Parini, 35, was killed in a car-ramming and shooting attack near a beach in Tel Aviv.

Israeli sources said Parini, an Italian lawyer from Rome who was vacationing in Tel Aviv, was killed, and five tourists were injured in what is believed to be a ‘car-ramming and shooting attack” near a beach in Tel Aviv before the police killed the attacker, 44, from Kafr Qassem town.

The sources added that the incident occurred at about 21:35 Friday when the attacker drove on the bike lane of “Charles Clore Park,” hitting six pedestrians.

The police named the driver as Yousef Abu Jaber, 44, a married father of five daughters from Kafr Qassem.

Yousef Ahmad Abu Jaber

Israeli daily Haaretz said, “A police officer and a municipal ranger arrived at the scene, and as they noticed the attacker attempted to reach a rifle-like object that was with him, they shot at him and killed him. According to a police source, no weapon was found in Jaber’s vehicle, but rather a toy gun.”

It added that three persons suffered moderate wounds, including a man, 74 years of age, and a teenage girl, 17, and that the two other wounded persons, a 50-year-old man and a woman, 70, suffered mild injuries. Haaretz also said some of the wounded were British and Italian citizens.

According to Haaretz, an eyewitness said a vehicle sped after and entered a gas station nearby the incident before gunshots were heard, and then the vehicle which was used in the incident turned rightwards and rolled over.

On April 9, the Israeli daily The Times Of Israel reported that Parini “was not found to have sustained any gunshot wounds, the Institute of Forensic Medicine confirmed on Sunday, while police sources reportedly confirmed that the incident was a terror attack.”

The Times Of Israeli added: “Despite earlier reports in the Italian media claiming a bullet had been found during a CT scan of Parini’s body, the Institute of Forensic Medicine ruled out the possibility, confirming that the force of the impact had killed the tourist.

A police officer and municipal inspectors who were near the scene of the alleged attack when the car overturned had initially claimed they saw the driver, Yousef Abu Jaber, “reach [for] a rifle-like object that was with him,” leading to initial suspicions that he had rammed Parini before proceeding to shoot him.”

Yousef’s family said they were shocked to hear about the incident and added that they would have prevented this from happening if they had known anything in advance and that he was a very quiet, respectful person and never had any ideological way of thinking.

Alessandro was from Rome, Italy. Source: IMEMC

Or Eshkar

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March 21st, 2023: Or Eshkar, 32, died of wounds sustained on March 10th when he was shot and critically wounded by a gunman identified as Mo’taz Khawaja, 23, who was killed by police at the scene.

According to Israeli sources, a 23-year old Palestinian man, identified as Mo’taz Khawaja, allegedly opened fire on a group of Israelis on a crowded street in Tel Aviv.

Mo’taz was killed by Israeli police at the scene, and Or Eshkar, 32, was killed as a result of the attack, succumbing to his wounds 11 days later.

The three Israelis who were shot were three friends in their thirties. The three were rushed to the Ichilov hospital after medics administered emergency first aid to two of the men, who were lying on the ground.

The incident took place on Dizengoff Street in Tel Aviv.

The Tel Aviv Israeli police commander stated, “Tel Aviv naturally is always a target and despite our being on high alert, we had no prior knowledge of the attack”.

After taking Hawaja into custody, Israeli forces invaded his home village and raided his family home, ransacking belongings and assaulting his family members.

Just a few blocks from the shooting, a protest was taking place when the incident occurred. The protest was challenging the Israeli government’s corruption, and was not affiliated with the attack at the cafe.

One nearby resident told Ha’aretz that he heard eight shots fired, and came outside and saw two men lying on the ground.

Soon after the incident, Israelis gathered at the scene and chanted “Death to Arabs”, while waving the Israeli flag.

Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu (the main target of the anti-corruption protesters), who was in Rome when the attack took place, stated, “There has been a grave incident in Tel Aviv, A terror attack. We commend the police and security forces fighting terrorists this evening and everywhere. I am certain this will not weaken our resolve to continue building our country and securing our future.”

In the three days prior to this shooting, Israeli troops killed ten Palestinians and wounded dozens more with live ammunition, mainly in Jenin, in the northern West Bank. No Israelis were killed in that time period.

Or was from Tel Aviv. Source: IMEMC

Ra’ad Fathi Khazem

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RaadApril 8, 2022: Ra’ad Fathi Khazem, 29, was shot and killed by Israeli forces while hiding near a mosque in Jaffa. He was accused of having carried out an attack on Israelis at a popular bar and restaurant strip in Tel Aviv the previous night.

Three Israelis were killed in the attack, in which a shooter fired randomly at passers by on a busy street filled with bars and restaurants. A Palestinian man who Israeli police identified as the assailant was shot and killed by Israeli forces before dawn the following morning.

On Friday, Barak Lofen, 35, died at the Sourasky Medical Center from serious wounds sustained during the shooting. Israeli sources said Lofen was a former Olympian kayaker and represented Israel in the 2008 Beijing and 2012 London Olympics.

Originally from Kibbutz Ginossar, Barak lived in Givat Shmuel, and was a married father of three children.

One of the Israelis killed in the attack was identified as 28-year-old old Tomer Morad, originally from Kfar Saba. Morad was an employee at Ilka Bar, on Dizengoff Street. Israeli soldiers said Eitam Megini, 27, from Kfar Sava, a childhood friend of Tomer, was also killed in the shooting attack.

The Israeli forces had searched the city for hours after a man shot and killed two Israelis and wounded 8 others in a mass shooting in Tel Aviv (one of the wounded died the following day of his injuries).

Ra’ad Fathi Hazem

Israeli troops located 29-year-old Ra’ad Fathi Hazem, from Jenin refugee camp, near a mosque in Jaffa (the Palestinian city that was originally located in the place where Tel Aviv was built by Israeli colonizers and is now considered a ‘suburb’ of Tel Aviv).

The shooting took place at two locations on Dizengoff Street in Tel Aviv, which is a street with several bars and restaurants.

Barak Lofen

 

According to Israeli sources, when he was discovered, Hazem fired ten bullets toward the officers who found him hiding near the mosque, and the Israeli police officers then shot and killed him.

Tomer Morad

Israel Police Chief Kobi Shabtai told reporters after Hazem was killed on Friday, “After a difficult night, and after long hours of joint activity by the Israel Police, the Shin Bet, and the [Israeli military], we succeeded this morning, in operational and intelligence cooperation, in closing a circle and eliminating the terrorist by exchange of fire. We emphasized that no matter how much it takes, we will catch the terrorist, alive or dead, and indeed the contact this morning was a quick and determined response from the Shin Bet and YAMAM fighters in Jaffa.”

Eitam Megini

Following the shooting attack in Tel Aviv, Israeli authorities called up hundreds of special forces soldiers, many of whom lined areas near the Wall that Israel has constructed to separate and annex Palestinian land. They were there to prevent Palestinians from crossing through from the West Bank into what is now Israel.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas denounced the fatal shooting and said, “the killing of Palestinian and Israeli civilians will only lead to further deterioration,” and added, “We are seeking stability, especially during Ramadan and the upcoming Jewish and Christians holidays.”

He added that the ongoing Israeli invasions into the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the escalating provocation by the illegal colonizes and the policies will only lead to further tension and instability.

“Only real and comprehensive peace will lead to stability,” Abbas said, “this is the shortest and safest road to security, peace, and stability, not only for the Palestinians and the Israelis but also to the entire region.”

Ra’ad was from Jenin, in the northern West Bank. Source: IMEMC

Barak Lofen

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Barak LofanApril 8, 2022: Barak Lofen, 35, was shot and killed along with two other Israelis in an attack by a Palestinian man. The attacker snuck into Tel Aviv and carried out a shooting attack on a busy street filled with bars and restaurants. A Palestinian man who Israeli police identified as the assailant was shot and killed by Israeli forces before dawn the following morning.

On Friday, Barak Lofen, 35, died at the Sourasky Medical Center from serious wounds sustained during the shooting. Israeli sources said Lofen was a former Olympian kayaker and represented Israel in the 2008 Beijing and 2012 London Olympics.

Originally from Kibbutz Ginossar, Barak lived in Givat Shmuel, and was a married father of three children.

One of the Israelis killed in the attack was identified as 28-year-old old Tomer Morad, originally from Kfar Saba. Morad was an employee at Ilka Bar, on Dizengoff Street. Israeli soldiers said Eitam Megini, 27, from Kfar Sava, a childhood friend of Tomer, was also killed in the shooting attack.

The Israeli forces had searched the city for hours after a man shot and killed two Israelis and wounded 8 others in a mass shooting in Tel Aviv (one of the wounded died the following day of his injuries).

Ra’ad Fathi Hazem

Israeli troops located 29-year-old Ra’ad Fathi Hazem, from Jenin refugee camp, near a mosque in Jaffa (the Palestinian city that was originally located in the place where Tel Aviv was built by Israeli colonizers and is now considered a ‘suburb’ of Tel Aviv).

The shooting took place at two locations on Dizengoff Street in Tel Aviv, which is a street with several bars and restaurants.

Barak Lofen

 

According to Israeli sources, when he was discovered, Hazem fired ten bullets toward the officers who found him hiding near the mosque, and the Israeli police officers then shot and killed him.

Tomer Morad

Israel Police Chief Kobi Shabtai told reporters after Hazem was killed on Friday, “After a difficult night, and after long hours of joint activity by the Israel Police, the Shin Bet, and the [Israeli military], we succeeded this morning, in operational and intelligence cooperation, in closing a circle and eliminating the terrorist by exchange of fire. We emphasized that no matter how much it takes, we will catch the terrorist, alive or dead, and indeed the contact this morning was a quick and determined response from the Shin Bet and YAMAM fighters in Jaffa.”

Eitam Megini

Following the shooting attack in Tel Aviv, Israeli authorities called up hundreds of special forces soldiers, many of whom lined areas near the Wall that Israel has constructed to separate and annex Palestinian land. They were there to prevent Palestinians from crossing through from the West Bank into what is now Israel.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas denounced the fatal shooting and said, “the killing of Palestinian and Israeli civilians will only lead to further deterioration,” and added, “We are seeking stability, especially during Ramadan and the upcoming Jewish and Christians holidays.”

He added that the ongoing Israeli invasions into the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the escalating provocation by the illegal colonizes and the policies will only lead to further tension and instability.

“Only real and comprehensive peace will lead to stability,” Abbas said, “this is the shortest and safest road to security, peace, and stability, not only for the Palestinians and the Israelis but also to the entire region.”

Barak was from Givat Shmuel, in Israel. Source: IMEMC

Eitam Megini

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Eitam MeginiApril 7, 2022: Eitam Megini, 27, was shot and killed along with two other Israelis in an attack by a Palestinian man. The attacker snuck into Tel Aviv and carried out a shooting attack on a busy street filled with bars and restaurants. A Palestinian man who Israeli police identified as the assailant was shot and killed by Israeli forces before dawn the following morning.

One of the Israelis killed in the attack was identified as 28-year-old old Tomer Morad, originally from Kfar Saba. Morad was an employee at Ilka Bar, on Dizengoff Street. Israeli soldiers said Eitam Megini, 27, from Kfar Sava, a childhood friend of Tomer, was also killed in the shooting attack.

The Israeli forces had searched the city for hours after a man shot and killed two Israelis and wounded 8 others in a mass shooting in Tel Aviv (one of the wounded died the following day of his injuries).

Ra’ad Fathi Hazem

Israeli troops located 29-year-old Ra’ad Fathi Hazem, from Jenin refugee camp, near a mosque in Jaffa (the Palestinian city that was originally located in the place where Tel Aviv was built by Israeli colonizers and is now considered a ‘suburb’ of Tel Aviv).

The shooting took place at two locations on Dizengoff Street in Tel Aviv, which is a street with several bars and restaurants.

Barak Lofen

On Friday, Barak Lofen, 35, died at the Sourasky Medical Center from serious wounds sustained during the shooting. Israeli sources said Lofen was a former Olympian kayaker and represented Israel in the 2008 Beijing and 2012 London Olympics.

Originally from Kibbutz Ginossar, Barak lived in Givat Shmuel, and was a married father of five three children.

According to Israeli sources, when he was discovered, Hazem fired ten bullets toward the officers who found him hiding near the mosque, and the Israeli police officers then shot and killed him.

Tomer Morad

Israel Police Chief Kobi Shabtai told reporters after Hazem was killed on Friday, “After a difficult night, and after long hours of joint activity by the Israel Police, the Shin Bet, and the [Israeli military], we succeeded this morning, in operational and intelligence cooperation, in closing a circle and eliminating the terrorist by exchange of fire. We emphasized that no matter how much it takes, we will catch the terrorist, alive or dead, and indeed the contact this morning was a quick and determined response from the Shin Bet and YAMAM fighters in Jaffa.”

Following the shooting attack in Tel Aviv, Israeli authorities called up hundreds of special forces soldiers, many of whom lined areas near the Wall that Israel has constructed to separate and annex Palestinian land. They were there to prevent Palestinians from crossing through from the West Bank into what is now Israel.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas denounced the fatal shooting and said, “the killing of Palestinian and Israeli civilians will only lead to further deterioration,” and added, “We are seeking stability, especially during Ramadan and the upcoming Jewish and Christians holidays.”

He added that the ongoing Israeli invasions into the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the escalating provocation by the illegal colonizes and the policies will only lead to further tension and instability.

“Only real and comprehensive peace will lead to stability,” Abbas said, “this is the shortest and safest road to security, peace, and stability, not only for the Palestinians  and the Israelis but also to the entire region.”

Eitam was from Kfar Saba, in Israel. Source: IMEMC

Tomer Morad

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Tomer MoradApril 7, 2022: Tomer Morad, 28, was shot and killed along with two other Israelis in an attack by a Palestinian man. The attacker snuck into Tel Aviv and carried out a shooting attack on a busy street filled with bars and restaurants. A Palestinian man who Israeli police identified as the assailant was shot and killed by Israeli forces before dawn the following morning.

One of the Israelis killed in the attack was identified as 28-year-old old Tomer Morad, originally from Kfar Saba. Morad was an employee at Ilka Bar, on Dizengoff Street.

The Israeli forces had searched the city for hours after a man shot and killed two Israelis and wounded 8 others in a mass shooting in Tel Aviv (one of the wounded died the following day of his injuries).

Ra’ad Fathi Hazem

Israeli troops located 29-year-old Ra’ad Fathi Hazem, from Jenin refugee camp, near a mosque in Jaffa (the Palestinian city that was originally located in the place where Tel Aviv was built by Israeli colonizers and is now considered a ‘suburb’ of Tel Aviv).

The shooting took place at two locations on Dizengoff Street in Tel Aviv, which is a street with several bars and restaurants.

Barak Lofen

On Friday, Barak Lofen, 35, died at the Sourasky Medical Center from serious wounds sustained during the shooting. Israeli sources said Lofen was a former Olympian kayaker and represented Israel in the 2008 Beijing and 2012 London Olympics.

Originally from Kibbutz Ginossar, Barak lived in Givat Shmuel, and was a married father of five three children.

Also, Israeli soldiers said Eitam Megini, 27, from Kfar Sava, a childhood friend of Tomer, was also killed in the shooting attack.

According to Israeli sources, when he was discovered, Hazem fired ten bullets toward the officers who found him hiding near the mosque, and the Israeli police officers then shot and killed him.

Israel Police Chief Kobi Shabtai told reporters after Hazem was killed on Friday, “After a difficult night, and after long hours of joint activity by the Israel Police, the Shin Bet, and the [Israeli military], we succeeded this morning, in operational and intelligence cooperation, in closing a circle and eliminating the terrorist by exchange of fire. We emphasized that no matter how much it takes, we will catch the terrorist, alive or dead, and indeed the contact this morning was a quick and determined response from the Shin Bet and YAMAM fighters in Jaffa.”

Eitam Megini

Following the shooting attack in Tel Aviv, Israeli authorities called up hundreds of special forces soldiers, many of whom lined areas near the Wall that Israel has constructed to separate and annex Palestinian land. They were there to prevent Palestinians from crossing through from the West Bank into what is now Israel.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas denounced the fatal shooting and said, “the killing of Palestinian and Israeli civilians will only lead to further deterioration,” and added, “We are seeking stability, especially during Ramadan and the upcoming Jewish and Christians holidays.”

He added that the ongoing Israeli invasions into the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the escalating provocation by the illegal colonizes and the policies will only lead to further tension and instability.

“Only real and comprehensive peace will lead to stability,” Abbas said, “this is the shortest and safest road to security, peace, and stability, not only for the Palestinians and the Israelis but also to the entire region.”

Tomer was from Kfar Saba, in Israel. Source: IMEMC