Casepin
Back to cases

Case file

2024 Ra'anana attack

SOLVED2024Industrial zone, Ra'anana, Israel3 SOURCESUPDATED JUL 2026

Documents violence · ongoing investigation — written to inform, not to shock.

Illustrative

On January 15, 2024, during the Gaza war, a combined vehicle-ramming and stabbing attack took place in the industrial zone of Ra'anana, Israel. According to Wikipedia's account of the incident, two Palestinian men from Bani Na'im in the Hebron area entered Ahuza Street in Ra'anana illegally at around 13:30. One of the men took control of a driver's car, broke into the vehicle, and stabbed the driver. He then drove through the city, switching vehicles three times and running over several civilians. He subsequently drove toward Haroshet Street, striking additional civilians, before reaching Weizmann Street, where he ran over more people and fled the scene.

Security forces launched a pursuit after receiving reports of the attack, and a rapid police chase involving special units led to the capture of the attacker along with a second man who allegedly assisted him. Senior police officials, including Police Commissioner Kobi Shabtai and District Commander Avraham Biton, arrived at the scene. A woman in her 70s was evacuated to the hospital, where she was pronounced dead after resuscitation efforts. Three additional people were seriously injured, including a 16-year-old boy; nine were moderately injured; and six were lightly injured, including children.

The two assailants were identified as brothers Mahmoud Zidat, 44, and Ahmad Zidat, 25, both residents of Bani Na'im who were staying in Israel illegally and working at a car wash in the city. Both had previously been apprehended multiple times for illegal presence in Israel; in May, prior to the attack, Mahmoud Zidat had been sentenced to 20 days of imprisonment plus a conditional sentence for illegal stay despite six prior convictions. Israel's Shin Bet internal security agency stated the pair intended to carry out the attack in response to the war in Gaza. Police investigation indicated that Ahmad Zidat had previously observed and considered attacking Avichay Adraee, the Israeli military's Arabic-language spokesman, months before the attack, but did not encounter him again despite searching for him while armed with a knife. One of the assailants reportedly told police that they had initially intended to stab Jewish people but decided instead to run over as many as possible.

The Khalil al-Rahman Brigade claimed responsibility for the attack. Hamas issued a statement describing the attack as a "guerrilla operation" carried out by "heroes" in response to what it called "massacre acts" by Israeli forces, and called for escalation of activity in the West Bank and Jerusalem.

Mahmoud and Ahmad Zidat pleaded guilty and were convicted in July 2024 on charges including aggravated murder and causing injury. In April 2025, an Israeli court sentenced both to life imprisonment plus 60 years.

Key facts

Victims
On file
Date
2024
Location
Industrial zone, Ra'anana, Israel
Case status
solved

Case timeline

  1. 2024-01-15

    Vehicle-ramming and stabbing attack occurs in the industrial zone of Ra'anana; one woman killed, eighteen others injured. Two attackers are pursued and arrested by police.

  2. 2024-07

    Mahmoud and Ahmad Zidat plead guilty and are convicted on charges including aggravated murder and causing injury.

  3. 2025-04

    An Israeli court sentences Mahmoud and Ahmad Zidat to life imprisonment plus 60 years.

Best coverage

No approved coverage links are attached yet.

People

  • Ahmad Zidat

    CONVICTED

    Convicted in July 2024 of aggravated murder and causing injury; sentenced in April 2025 to life imprisonment plus 60 years for his role in the attack.

    citation on file

  • Mahmoud Zidat

    CONVICTED

    Convicted in July 2024 of aggravated murder and causing injury; sentenced in April 2025 to life imprisonment plus 60 years for his role in the attack.

    citation on file

Places

Common questions

What happened to the victim?
On January 15, 2024, two brothers from Bani Na'im in the Hebron area carried out a combined vehicle-ramming and stabbing attack in the industrial zone of Ra'anana, Israel, killing one woman and injuring eighteen others. Both were convicted in July 2024 and sentenced to life imprisonment plus 60 years in April 2025.
Where did the crime happen?
Industrial zone, Ra'anana, Israel.
Who was convicted?
Ahmad Zidat (Convicted in July 2024 of aggravated murder and causing injury; sentenced in April 2025 to life imprisonment plus 60 years for his role in the attack.) and Mahmoud Zidat (Convicted in July 2024 of aggravated murder and causing injury; sentenced in April 2025 to life imprisonment plus 60 years for his role in the attack.).
What is the current status of the case?
Status: solved. Last verified July 2026.

Sources

  1. 2024 Ra'anana attackwikipedia · Wikipedia · 2026-07-07
  2. Second suspect from Hebron arrested in connection to Ra'anana attacknews · timesofisrael.com · 2026-07-07
  3. Contemporaneous coverage of the Ra'anana attacknews · ynetnews.com · 2026-07-07

Last verified JUL 2026