Police shoot Hamas-linked Palestinian dead after attempted car-ramming

An assailant attempted to ram a police officer on the road connecting Jerusalem and Ma’aleh Adumim on Tuesday afternoon before fleeing the scene, the Israel Police said in a statement.

Later on Tuesday, the police added that the vehicle aroused suspicion from a police officer, who inspected him, finding that he was a Palestinian residing illegally in Israel and driving an Israeli vehicle without a permit.

The suspect did not comply with the police officer’s orders and fled the scene by attempting to run over the police officer, who felt his life was in danger and opened fire on the fleeing vehicle.

The police officer involved feared harm to other civilians and called colleagues to be aware and establish checkpoints.

A few minutes after the original incident, a vehicle and driver matching the suspect’s description were spotted driving toward Eizariya, a Palestinian village southwest of Ma’aleh Adumim, where a checkpoint had been set up.

החשד לניסיון דריסה סמוך למעלה אדומים – מוקדם יותר היום, רכב ישראלי שעורר את חשדו של שוטר בא.ת מישור אדומים נבדק על ידו במסגרת פעילות שגרתית. במהלך הבדיקה התברר כי מדובר בפלסטיני השוהה במקום שלא כדין ונוהג ברכב ישראלי ללא היתר. החשוד, שלא נענה להוראות השוטר לעצור, החל בהימלטות… pic.twitter.com/QFYal0O763

— משטרת ישראל (@IL_police) March 25, 2025

Police officers signaled for the driver to stop, but the suspect exited the vehicle and fled on foot, the police stated.

During the chase, police officers fired warning shots in the air, followed by shooting the suspect’s “lower body” when he did not heed warnings in order to prevent his escape, the police added.

Suspect's terror background

Upon his detention, police found that the suspect, a 41-year-old resident of Eizariya, had a criminal background, was known to security officials, and was affiliated with Hamas.

The police stated that he received medical attention at the scene, but was taken to the hospital with serious injuries and later died of his wounds.

No injuries to police officers were announced.