Two people have been confirmed dead, and two others injured in a stabbing incident near Tel Aviv, according to Israeli authorities. The attack, which occurred during the morning rush hour, took place close to a gas station and a park in the city of Holon. The presumed assailant, a Palestinian from the occupied West Bank, was shot dead by a police officer who arrived on the scene but later died in the hospital. Police have confirmed that they acted swiftly to neutralize the attacker. “The terrorist was quickly neutralized by one of our officers on the scene, preventing him from carrying out an even worse attack,” said police spokesperson Eli Levi to Israeli television.

The 66-year-old woman who was one of the victims was declared dead at the scene, while her 80-year-old partner was injured. Another victim, a 68-year-old individual, also lost their life during the attack, and a 26-year-old was moderately injured, according to Magen David Adom, Israel’s emergency medical service. Forensic reports indicate that the attack was complex, as the victims were located in three different places, about 500 meters apart.

In the aftermath of the attack, Israel’s far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir visited the site and urged citizens to take up arms to protect themselves. Ben-Gvir noted that over 150,000 gun permits have been issued in the past eight months and encouraged people to “take weapons and use them.” The attacker has been identified as a 34-year-old man from Salfit, a city in the northern part of the West Bank, and is reported to have been in Israel without permission.

Following the attack, Israeli forces have sealed off access to Salfit, indicating that they are preparing to conduct raids in the city. According to reports, Israeli military forces typically storm the attacker’s home, interrogate family members, and often demolish residences as part of their policy towards Palestinians accused of attacking Israeli targets.

Tensions in the region have escalated sharply following an Israeli military operation in Gaza that has resulted in the deaths of nearly 40,000 Palestinians and caused widespread displacement and famine. This latest stabbing attack occurred during a time of heightened tension in Israel and the broader Middle East, particularly following the assassination of Hamas’ political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, which came shortly after Israel killed a senior Hezbollah commander in Beirut.

Meanwhile, an Israeli airstrike early Sunday killed four people in a tent camp housing displaced Palestinians within a hospital complex in central Gaza. The attack took place at Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir el-Balah, the primary medical facility currently operating in central Gaza. Hamas has stated that the stabbing attack is a “natural reaction” to Israeli attacks on Palestinians and the assassination of Haniyeh, although they did not claim direct responsibility for the attack.