Teenager Killed in Ramming Incident After Prayer Event Confrontation

A 17-year-old yeshiva student, Amihai Attia from the settlement of Itamar, was killed in Hadera on Thursday night when he was struck by a commercial vehicle during an attempted escape by the driver. The incident occurred in the parking lot of the Village shopping complex, where Attia and other students from the Hitzim Yeshiva were attending a Selichot prayer event. Witnesses reported that a confrontation erupted between the driver, identified as a resident of the village of Manday, and the prayer attendees. The attendees were reportedly angered by the driver's attempt to unload merchandise during the prayer service. Accounts suggest that a crowd gathered around the vehicle, leading the driver to attempt to flee the scene. In his haste, the driver struck Attia, then continued driving south. The driver sustained minor injuries from a shot fired by a member of a local security team who mistook the incident for a nationalistic attack. The driver was apprehended near Netanya and taken for questioning. Initially, a murder investigation was considered, but police later reclassified the incident, attributing charges of hit-and-run, reckless driving, and endangering human life to the driver. The Shin Bet has currently ruled out a nationalistic motive. The driver's attorney stated that his client felt threatened by the crowd and attempted to escape, with no intention of harming anyone. Attia is survived by his parents and five siblings. The Itamar community and the Samaria Regional Council expressed deep grief and shock over the tragedy.