Israeli Forces Kill Father of Terrorist Who Murdered Three in 2022 Tel Aviv Attack

On April 7, 2023, Israeli military forces killed Fathi Hazem, the father of terrorist Raad Hazem, who carried out a deadly stabbing attack in 2022 at a bar on Dizengoff Street in Tel Aviv. The attack claimed the lives of three Israelis: Tomer Morad, Eitam Magini, and Barak Lofen. Tomer Morad's sister, Tal Morad, expressed no relief over her brother's death but welcomed the news that a man who spread hatred within his community was no longer alive. She emphasized the pain her family continues to endure and hoped no other families would suffer similarly.

Eitam Magini's father stated that anyone inciting or acting against Israel deserves death, praising the elimination of Fathi Hazem, who had attempted to stab Israeli soldiers in Jenin before being killed. Barak Lofen's widow, Dana, mourned her late husband and acknowledged the closure the operation brought, though she said it offered no true consolation. She highlighted the importance of the soldiers returning unharmed and saluted their efforts.

Fathi Hazem, a former senior Palestinian security officer, became publicly known after his son's attack. Following his son's death, he incited Palestinians against Israel in a viral speech, calling for continued violence and the purification of Al-Aqsa Mosque from Israeli presence. Anticipating arrest, he and his other son went into hiding under the protection of armed militants in the Jenin refugee camp.

The Israeli military reported that no Israeli soldiers were injured during the operation in Jenin. The killing of Fathi Hazem marks a significant development in the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict, closing a painful chapter for the victims' families but underscoring the persistent cycle of violence in the region.