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Two Killed, Two Wounded in Holon Terror Attack
Illustrative: The knife used in a stabbing attack in Jerusalem’s Old City, March 6, 2022. Photo: Israeli Police
JNS.org – A 66-year-old woman and an 80-year-old man were killed and two other people wounded in a terrorist stabbing in Holon in central Israel on Sunday morning.
The woman, identified as Rina Daniv, was pronounced dead at the scene, while the man succumbed to his wounds after being transported to the city’s Wolfson Medical Center along with the other victims, one of whom was identified as Rina Daniv’s husband, Shimon, 69.
The stabbings occurred at two locations in the city, and the assailant was shot dead by a police officer.
Police have not ruled out the possibility that another terrorist may have fled the scene.
Shimon Daniv, in serious condition, and a 26-year-old man, Ya’akov Levertov, in moderate condition were treated on the scene and then evacuated to Wolfson Medical Center, according to Magen David Adom spokesperson Zaki Heller.
The terrorist was identified as Amar Razak Kamel Odeh, 35, from the Arab city of Salfit in Samaria. He did not have an Israeli residence permit. He was pronounced dead at Shamir Medical Center (formerly Assaf Harofeh Medical Center) in Be’er Ya’akov.
The stabbings occurred at a gas station on Moshe Dayan Street and at a nearby street, Channel 12 reported. According to MDA, the attacks occurred at three separate locations, around 500 meters apart.
“The terrorist went on a killing spree. The police are working to rule out the presence of another terrorist and accomplices,” Israel Police spokesman Eli Levy told Channel 12. “We are in the first minutes after the attack. It is important for me to emphasize that we have not ruled out the possibility that there are additional terrorists in the area, we are conducting many scans.”
National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir arrived at the scene, saying that “our war is not only against Iran, but also here in the streets.” He praised the quick police reaction to the attack, and called on Israeli citizens to arm themselves. “It saves lives,” he said.
At the start of the weekly Cabinet meeting in Jerusalem, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to “settle accounts” with any possible accomplices of the terrorist.
“This morning a murderous terrorist attack was carried out in Holon. I send my condolences to the families of the murdered and best wishes for a speedy recovery to the injured. I praise the police who tried to contact and eliminate the terrorist. We will settle accounts with everyone who cooperated with him,” he said, according to Ynet.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog said that the nation was mourning the victims and praying for the wounded.
“Our enemies attack us again and again with hatred-filled terror,” said Herzog, adding that the “only sin” of the victims “was that they wanted to live as a free people in their own country.
“I strengthen the hands of the IDF and the security forces in their fight to eradicate terrorism. We will continue to stand against terrorism—from near and far, we will not give in, we will not slacken for a moment in our determination, and we will continue to believe in the righteousness of the way and act in the light,” he said.
Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich tweeted: “We must remember again and again, as on this difficult morning, that our war is against human monsters who are capable of murdering old men and women who were just walking down the street, a war of absolute evil and cruelty against absolute good. And the good must win and destroy the bad, without stopping for one minute. And so it will be. Condolences to the victims’ families and a full recovery to the wounded.”
National Unity Party leader Benny Gantz tweeted: “A difficult morning. I would like to send my heartfelt condolences to the families of [those] murdered in the attack in Holon, to pray for the recovery of all the wounded and to strengthen the members of the security forces and our soldiers who operate at all borders and beyond them—to prevent terrorism and to strike at its perpetrators and their agents.”
Levertov described the incident to Ynet, saying that he saw the terrorist when he was walking his dog and was stabbed in the shoulder and stomach.
“He came out of an open area in my direction while walking, he just walked with an angry face. He looked at me. We got closer, because we were walking in opposite directions, and suddenly he ran in my direction and grabbed me. I felt that he hit my shoulder. I managed to escape from him together with my dog and arrived at the central station of Egged [the bus company], in the parking lot. I put my hand back. The drivers helped me. I sat down on the bench and they continued the treatment,” he said.
He continued, “I was on the phone with the police, already when I started running away I called the police. After I sat down, the drivers took the phone and I spoke to the police and MDA, to direct the forces in my direction. In the process I understand that I am not the only victim because there were large forces that reached the intersection,” he continued.
“At first I thought it was something personal, he was completely silent and didn’t speak. He just came and grabbed me. I didn’t hear any yelling afterwards either. He was alone and I was alone with my dog, that’s it. After he hit me I ran away and never saw him again. Only in retrospect did I realize it was a terrorist attack.”
The post Two Killed, Two Wounded in Holon Terror Attack first appeared on Algemeiner.com.
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Rubio Heads to Israel Amid Tensions Among US Middle East Allies
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio speaks to members of the media, before departing for Israel at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, US, September 13, 2025. Photo: REUTERS/Nathan Howard/Pool
US President Donald Trump’s top diplomat, Marco Rubio headed to Israel on Saturday, amid tensions with fellow US allies in the Middle East over Israel’s strike on Hamas leaders in Qatar and expansion of settlements in the West Bank.
Speaking to reporters before departure, Rubio reiterated that the US and President Donald Trump were not happy about the strikes.
Rubio said the US relationship with Israel would not be affected, but that he would discuss with the Israelis how the strike would affect Trump’s desire to secure the return of all the hostages held by Hamas, get rid of the terrorists and end the Gaza war.
“What’s happened, has happened,” he said. “We’re gonna meet with them. We’re gonna talk about what the future holds,” he said.
“There are still 48 hostages that deserve to be released immediately, all at once. And there is still the hard work ahead once this ends, of rebuilding Gaza in a way that provides people the quality of life that they all want.”
Rubio said it had yet to be determined who would do that, who would pay for it and who would be in charge of the process.
After Israel, Rubio is due to join Trump’s planned visit to Britain next week.
Hamas still holds 48 hostages, and Qatar has been one of the mediators, along with the US, trying to secure a ceasefire deal that would include the captives’ release.
On Tuesday, Israel attempted to kill the political leaders of Hamas with an airstrike on Doha. US officials described it as a unilateral escalation that did not serve American or Israeli interests.
The strike on the territory of a close US ally sparked broad condemnation from other Arab states and derailed ceasefire and hostage talks brokered by Qatar.
On Friday, Rubio met with Qatar’s Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani at the White House, underscoring competing interests in the region that Rubio will seek to balance on his trip. Later that day, US President Donald Trump held dinner with the prime minister in New York.
Rubio’s trip comes ahead of high-level meetings at the United Nations in New York later this month. Countries including France and Britain are expected to recognize Palestinian statehood, a move opposed by Israel.
Washington says such recognition would bolster Hamas and Rubio has suggested the move could spur the annexation of the West Bank sought by hardline members of the Israeli government.
ON Thursday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu signed an agreement to push ahead with a settlement expansion plan that would cut across West Bank land that the Palestinians seek for a state. Last week, the United Arab Emirates warned that this would cross a red line and undermine the U.S.-brokered Abraham Accords that normalized UAE-Israel relations in 2020.
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Netanyahu Posts Message Appearing to Confirm Hamas Leaders Survived Doha Strike
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during a Plenum session of the Knesset, Israel’s Parliament, in Jerusalem, June 11, 2025. Photo: REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun
i24 News – In a statement posted to social media on Saturday evening, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the Qatar-based leadership of Hamas, reiterating that the jihadist group had to regard for the lives of Gazans and represented an obstacle to ending the war and releasing the Israelis it held hostage.
The wording of Netanyahu’s message appeared to confirm that the strike targeting the Hamas leaders in Doha was not crowned with success.
“The Hamas terrorists chiefs living in Qatar don’t care about the people in Gaza,” wrote Netanyahu. “They blocked all ceasefire attempts in order to endlessly drag out the war.” He added that “Getting rid of them would rid the main obstacle to releasing all our hostages and ending the war.”
Israel is yet to officially comment on the result of the strike, which has incurred widespread international criticism.
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Trump Hosts Qatari Prime Minister After Israeli Attack in Doha
Qatar’s Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani attends an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council, following an Israeli attack on Hamas leaders in Doha, Qatar, at UN headquarters in New York City, US, Sept. 11, 2025. Photo: REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz
US President Donald Trump held dinner with the Qatari prime minister in New York on Friday, days after US ally Israel attacked Hamas leaders in Doha.
Israel attempted to kill the political leaders of Hamas with an attack in Qatar on Tuesday, a strike that risked derailing US-backed efforts to broker a truce in Gaza and end the nearly two-year-old conflict. The attack was widely condemned in the Middle East and beyond as an act that could escalate tensions in a region already on edge.
Trump expressed annoyance about the strike in a phone call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and sought to assure the Qataris that such attacks would not happen again.
Trump and Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani were joined by a top Trump adviser, US special envoy Steve Witkoff.
“Great dinner with POTUS. Just ended,” Qatar’s deputy chief of mission, Hamah Al-Muftah, said on X.
The White House confirmed the dinner had taken place but offered no details.
The session followed an hour-long meeting that al-Thani had at the White House on Friday with Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
A source briefed on the meeting said they discussed Qatar’s future as a mediator in the region and defense cooperation in the wake of the Israeli strikes against Hamas in Doha.
Trump said he was unhappy with Israel’s strike, which he described as a unilateral action that did not advance US or Israeli interests.
Washington counts Qatar as a strong Gulf ally. Qatar has been a main mediator in long-running negotiations for a ceasefire between Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas in Gaza, for the release of Israeli hostages held in Gaza and for a post-conflict plan for the territory.
Al-Thani blamed Israel on Tuesday for trying to sabotage chances for peace but said Qatar would not be deterred from its role as mediator.