Palestinian terrorists murder old woman and run over several school children in central Israel

An elderly woman is dead, and at least 17 people, including several school children, are wounded after a pair of Palestinian terrorists went on a rampage Monday in central Israel.

Two Palestinians illegally in Ra'anana, an Israeli city north of Tel Aviv, launched the attack around 1:30 p.m. just as schools were letting out. The terrorists violently hijacked three vehicles over the course of their rampage, in one instance slicing up a female driver.

With the stolen vehicles, the Palestinians launched multiple attacks across Ra'anana, running over several children and killing 79-year-old Edna Bluestein, reported the Jerusalem Post.

A witness told Haaretz that she saw "someone stab people near the mall. [The attacker] stole a car and ran over other people."

"Another person was with me, noticed the situation and shouted 'an attack, an attack'. After that, I saw the terrorist. I saw him stabbing a man around 60 years old. The man fell and the terrorist ran away," said witness Eden Alfi.

After repeatedly swapping hijacked vehicles, Mahmoud Zidat, 44, and Ahmed Zidat, 24, of Bani Na'im ultimately crashed and were arrested by police. Mahmoud Zidat reportedly worked illegally at a car wash in the city and has been living in Ra'anana with Ahmed, his cousin.

Following the terrorists' capture, Israeli police indicated central district police officers were sweeping "the attack scenes and its surroundings to ensure no further threats."

Central District Police Chief Avi Biton said, "This was a very grave terror attack," reported the Daily Mail.

"They went out together and in parallel, to two different locations, took two cars and launched a series of rammings," added Biton.

One of the attackers allegedly told the Shin Bet that "when the war in Gaza started," they "decided to carry out an attack and become martyrs... Initially, we intended to stab Jews, but then we decided to run over as many Jews as possible," reported the Times of Israel.

The Magen David Adom emergency services initially indicated that two males, ages 34 and 16, were in "serious condition with head and limb injuries"; another eight victims were in moderate condition; and three were in mild condition. However, Haaretz later revealed that three individuals, including a 16-year-old boy, were in serious condition and that 14 victims, including six children, were left in light to moderate condition.

The victims were taken to Meir Hospital in Kfar Saba, the Beilinson Hospital in Petah Tikva, and the Sourasky Medical Center in Tel Aviv. Fourteen of the victims remained hospitalized as of Monday evening.

The Post reported that Hamas has claimed responsibility for the attacks.

Hamas called the terror attacks "a natural response to the massacres of the Nazi occupation and its continued aggression against our Palestinian people."

The terror group also implored "revolutionary youth throughout the West Bank and Jerusalem" to "escalate the struggle and revolution" until Palestine is established where Israel once stood.

Footage taken by a passerby shows one of the badly damaged vehicles, ostensibly used by the terrorists, on the sidewalk near a motionless body.

U.S. Ambassador to Israel Jack Lew said in a statement, "I condemn the brutal terrorist attacks today in Ra'anana that led to at least one dead and scores wounded, including children. I offer my deepest condolences to the family mourning the loss of their loved one and wishing a quick recovery to those wounded."

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