A Palestinian assailant ran over a man and stabbed a woman in northern Israel on Friday (December 26) , Israeli emergency services said.

The assailant, from the occupied West Bank, was shot and wounded by a civilian at the scene and taken to hospital, the Israeli police said in a statement.

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said he had instructed the military to respond forcefully in the West Bank town of Qabaitya, where he said the assailant came from, to thwart any further attacks.

The Israeli military said it was "preparing for an operation" in the area.

The Israeli ambulance service said that a teenager was also hurt in the attack and that the man and woman were pronounced dead at the scene after medics were unable to resuscitate them.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

AFULA, ISRAEL (DECEMBER 26, 2025) (REUTERS - Access all)

1. ISRAELI POLICE NEAR VEHICLE WHICH SAID TO BE USED BY PALESTINIAN MAN DURING A RAMMING ATTACK THAT KILLED TWO ISRAELIS/POLICE AT SITE

2. INVESTIGATION TEAM NEAR VEHICLE

3. AMBULANCE HEADING OUT OF SITE

4. POLICE AND INVESTIGATION TEAM AT SITE

5. (SOUNDBITE) (Hebrew) WITNESS, TOMMY GALIN, SAYING:

"I was with my friends in a vehicle , we were near the traffic lights. We heard a boom from a car, I looked back, and we heard shooting. I saw the terrorist in the floor, and we drove away from area."

6. VARIOUS OF ISRAELI MINISTER OF NATIONAL SECURITY ITAMAR BEN GVIR AT SITE

7. (SOUNDBITE) (Hebrew) ISRAELI MINISTER OF NATIONAL SECURITY ITAMAR BEN GVIR , SAYING:

"Weapons save lives, this policy that also increased 20 alerts shifts, so people can go around with weapon. There were security forces illuminate the terrorist. I call Israeli citizens to go and get armed, there is a good policy for this, get armed to save lives."

8. VARIOUS OF VEHICLE USED BY ATTACKER , POLICE FORCES AT SITE

9. SITE WHERE ATTACK TOOK PLACE