Israeli patrolman killed in shooting attack in Tel Aviv; Palestinian assailant shot dead
Police at the scene of the shooting in Tel Aviv on 5 August 2023
Bar Peleg, Josh Breiner, Jack Khoury and Ben Samuels report in Haaretz on 5 August 2023:
An Israeli municipal patrolman was killed in a suspected shooting attack in Tel Aviv on Saturday evening. His partner shot the assailant, a Palestinian from the Jenin area, after a brief chase.
The Tel Aviv patrolman, identified as Chen Amir, a 42-year-old father of three, was taken to Ichilov Hospital in critical condition, but succumbed to his wounds later Saturday night. Amir’s fellow motorcycle patrolmen came to the hospital after they were told of the attack, and stayed with him and his family in his final hours.
Police Commissioner Kobi Shabtai arrived at the scene near Nahalat Binyamin Street, a nightlife center in the city. According to Shabtai, at about 6:25 P.M., Tel Aviv municipal patrolmen had noticed a man who roused their suspicion, and he did not respond to their calls to halt. As the patrolmen got off their motorcycles, the man pulled out a pistol and shot Amir in the upper body. After a brief chase, the second patrolman pulled out his weapon and shot him. The assailant died at Ichilov Hospital.
The Shin Bet security service identified the assailant as Kamel Abu Baker, 22, from the Jenin area, who has been a fugitive in the Jenin refugee camp for the past six months. He did not have a permit to work or reside in Israel. The Shin Bet said that he was affiliated with the Islamic Jihad terror group, but in a letter attributed to Abu Baker, he said he did not belong to any organization.
Speaking with Shabtai, the patrolman who shot Abu Baker said that it was the assailant’s large backpack and refusal to make eye contact that made him suspicious. The man was standing near a wine bar, and did not move until he saw the patrolmen coming and started walking toward the crowded establishment.
Shabtai praised the patrolmen’s work, saying that “there is no doubt that your quick work and professionalism saved lives. Just meters away, you can see cafés crowded with people and understand the magnitude of the disaster that was prevented.”
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made a statement as well. “I praise the members of the Tel Aviv Municipal Security Patrol for their alertness and willingness to engage [the assailant], and in doing so prevented a very serious terror attack.”
National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir said that he “Praises Tel Aviv’s patrolmen, who initiated contact [with the assailant] while their lives were under threat, neutralized the worthless terrorist and prevented a grave terror attack and saved lives. It once again proves that alertness and armed patrols help and save many lives.”
Tareq Salami, spokesman of the Islamic Jihad, praised the attack, “which emphasizes the unity of the Palestinian struggle and a natural response to the daily killing that the occupation carries out against the Palestinian people.”
The U.S. State Department condemned the attack, adding that they “express [their] deepest condolences to the victims’ families & call for an end to these acts of violence & incitement to violence.”
Security forces are searching the area for any additional assailants or collaborators.
The shooting comes hours before the protests against the judicial overhaul; the main protest is held on Tel Aviv’s Kaplan Street. Protest leaders clarified that the demonstration will proceed as planned.
On Friday evening, 19-year-old Qosai Jammal Mi’tan was shot dead by settlers during clashes between Palestinians and settlers near the West Bank village of Burqa. Two Israelis, one of whom is in the hospital in critical condition, were arrested on Saturday on suspicion of involvement in the killing. Israeli security officials fear the incident will further exacerbate security tensions in the West Bank.
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