Teenager Killed in Ramming Incident During Religious Event in Hadera

A 17-year-old yeshiva student, Amihai Attia from the settlement of Itamar, was killed late Thursday night when he was struck by a commercial vehicle in Hadera. The incident occurred in the parking lot of the Village shopping complex during a Selichot (penitential prayers) event attended by students from the Hitzim yeshiva. Witnesses reported that a confrontation erupted between the driver of the vehicle, a resident of the village of Manday, and the prayer attendees. The attendees were reportedly angered because the driver was attempting to unload merchandise during the prayer service.

According to accounts, the driver insisted he needed to unload his cargo, but the agitated youths surrounded his vehicle. As the driver attempted to flee the scene, he struck Amihai Attia, who was then rushed to Laniado Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. The driver continued south for some distance before being apprehended near Netanya. He sustained minor injuries from a shot fired by a member of a local security team, who reportedly believed the incident might be a nationalistically motivated attack.

The police and the Shin Bet security agency have stated that they are currently not treating the incident as a nationalistically motivated attack. The driver is facing charges of hit-and-run and endangering human life. His attorney stated that his client felt threatened by the crowd and attempted to escape, with no intention of harming the teenager.

The driver has been taken for questioning, as has the security team member who fired at the vehicle. Amihai Attia, who was in the 12th grade at the Hitzim yeshiva, is survived by his parents and five siblings. The Itamar community and the Samaria Regional Council expressed deep sorrow over the tragic death of the beloved and active youth leader.