Hamas spokesman praises car-ramming attack

A Hamas spokesman has called Friday’s car-ramming attack which killed two soldiers, as an “heroic” act.

In a statement published on the Islamist movement’s official website, spokesman Fawzi Barhoum said: “Hamas blesses the heroic and courageous Jenin operation, which is an affirmation of our Palestinian people’s insistence in staying on the path of resistance and employing all of its tools and means to defend itself and confront the occupation.”

Friday afternoon’s attack took place near the Mevo Dotan settlement in the northern West Bank, when Alaa Kabha from Barta – identified by Shin Beit – rammed his car in to two soldiers, killing them both and wounding two others.

While not saying Hamas was responsible, the terror group had called for Friday to be a “Day of Rage” a couple of days ago, with Barhoum adding: “We call on our people and its factions… to escalate the Jerusalem intifada and raise the cost of the occupation.”