Driver Arrest Extended in Deadly Hit-and-Run Case in Hadera

A 21-year-old man from Kafr Manda, Mahmoud Samhat, had his arrest extended until Thursday by the Hadera Magistrate's Court. He is suspected in a hit-and-run incident early last Friday that resulted in the death of 17-year-old Amihai Attia in a Hadera shopping center parking lot. The driver was reportedly shot after the incident, with sources indicating the shooter believed it was a vehicular attack. Police requested an eight-day extension for Samhat's detention to continue investigations. However, the court granted a 48-hour extension, until Thursday, after hearing defense arguments. Samhat's lawyer, Yousef Shalabi, expressed hope that police would conclude their investigation by Thursday, leading to his client's release. Earlier media reports suggested the incident was not security-related, with eyewitnesses claiming Samhat attempted to flee after being attacked by Jewish youths, and that Attia's death was unintentional.