Driver Accused of Fatal Hit-and-Run Remains in Custody

A 21-year-old driver from Kafr Manda, suspected of fatally hitting 17-year-old Amihai Atia in Hadera, had his arrest extended until Tuesday by the Haifa Magistrate's Court. The incident occurred in the parking lot of the "Mul Ha'hof Village" shopping complex during a large Selichot prayer gathering. Atia, a resident of the settlement of Itamar in the Samaria region and a student at the Hitzim Yeshiva, was laid to rest in Itamar shortly before the court hearing.

The suspect's mother stated that her son was a victim of incitement and nearly lynched, claiming he was shot at because he was mistaken for a terrorist. She added that he escaped and stones were thrown at him, and that he "miraculously survived." The suspect's attorney confirmed that his client "narrowly escaped a lynching."

The suspect's father described his family as quiet and uninvolved in disputes, stating his son works delivering vegetables and was busy with work. He explained that his son felt threatened by young people in Hadera who hurled insults, leading to an unintentional collision. He also reported that shots were fired at his son at that moment and pleaded for an end to incitement against him.

During the court hearing, it was revealed that the individual who allegedly shot at the suspect has not yet been arrested. A police representative mentioned that security camera footage is being examined. The suspect claimed in his interrogation that he feared for his life and fled the scene at high speed.

Hundreds of friends and family attended Atia's funeral. His friend Yitzhak Silver described him as a brother, while his brother Dror recounted their lifelong closeness, stating, "Even when you were far from me, there was love and longing."