Canadian Citizen Killed After Attempted Stabbing Attack Against Israeli Security Unit

Israeli army bulldozers near the Gaza Strip border, in southern Israel, Thursday, June 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg, File)

A Canadian citizen was killed Monday after threatening local Israeli security officials with a knife near the Gaza border, Israeli authorities said.

In a video widely posted on X, three Israeli officials are seen pointing their guns at a man who approaches them and then falls to the ground.

Israeli authorities said the man, who had a Canadian passport on him, had driven to the outpost and got out of the car wielding a knife.

The man was yelling “Free Palestine” and “You are killing civilians in Gaza” before being shot, according to Israel’s Kan public broadcaster.

“A short while ago, a suspect arrived at the entrance of Netiv HaAsara, exited his vehicle and threatened with a knife members of the community’s rapid response team operating in the area,” the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said in a statement, shared on X by Israel’s ambassador to Canada, Iddo Moed, on Monday.

“The rapid response team responded with fire and neutralized the suspect. No injuries to the security forces were reported.”

The incident took place by the entrance of the town of Netiv HaAsara, about 300 metres north of the Gaza border. It comes at a time when stabbings are on the rise in Gaza, a region that has been at war after Hamas terrorists attacked Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, leaving 1,200 casualties and taking more than 240 people hostage.

Kan public broadcaster identified the attacker as Qawarshi Zakaria Adam. Israeli police said he arrived at the outpost from within Israeli territory, and not from the Gaza Strip.

“Global Affairs Canada is aware of an incident involving a Canadian citizen in Israel,” wrote spokesperson Charlotte MacLeod. “Due to privacy considerations, no further information can be disclosed at this time.”

On the same day as the stabbing attack, Israeli forces ordered the evacuation of an area of the Gaza strip, saying they plan to launch a ground operation against Hamas terrorists who have infiltrated the area to launch rockets against Israel.

“Due to significant terrorist activity and rocket fire toward the State of Israel from the eastern part of the Humanitarian Area in Gaza, remaining in this area has become dangerous,” said the IDF in a statement on X on Monday. “The early warning to civilians is being made in order to mitigate harm to the civilian population and keep civilians away from areas of combat.”

The Canadian Press and Reuters contributed to this report.