Screen grab from footage released by the Israeli Police.
Late on May 5, three people were killed and several others were seriously wounded in an attack in the central Israeli city of Elad.
Israeli police officials said that two men attacked passersby at a park in Elad. One of the attackers used a firearm and the other had an ax or a large knife. The two suspects are still at large. The police launched a manhunt for the suspects and blocked off several roads in the area. A helicopter is also being used to search for a vehicle that had fled the scene.
The Magen David Adom emergency response service said two people were in a serious condition and two others suffered moderate or light injuries after the attack.
The attack came as Israel marked Independence Day, a public holiday marking the establishment of the country. Many Israelis celebrate Independence Day outdoors in city parks and nature areas.
It also follows a series of deadly attacks carried out by Palestinians in recent weeks. At least 15 people have been killed in Israel and the West Bank as a result of the attacks. Israel responded by raiding Palestinian towns in the West Bank, sparking clashes that left at least 26 people dead.
Palestinian armed factions praised the deadly attack in Elad. The Hamas Movement, the de-facto ruler of the Gaza Strip, called the attack “a heroic operation” in response to earlier clashes in the al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem.
In the morning, more than 40 Palestinians were reportedly wounded when Israeli security forces assaulted Palestinian worshipers in al-Aqsa.
Israel will likely respond to Elad attack by adopting tighter security measures against Palestinians in Jerusalem and the West Bank. This will likely lead to more escalation, not only in Jerusalem and the West Bank but also around the Gaza Strip.
