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Moroccan-American's Tel Aviv Stabbing Spree Shakes Israel 🇲🇦🇺🇸🔪

TL;DR: A 29-year-old Moroccan with U.S. residency, Abdel Aziz Qadi, attacked and injured four Israelis in Tel Aviv before being shot dead. This incident highlights ongoing tensions and security concerns in the region.

On January 21, 2025, Tel Aviv's usual hustle was shattered when Abdel Aziz Qadi, a 29-year-old Moroccan national holding U.S. permanent residency, went on a stabbing spree, injuring four Israeli men aged between 24 and 59. The chaos ended when an armed civilian intervened, fatally shooting Qadi.

Just days before, on January 18, Qadi had entered Israel on a tourist visa. Despite undergoing security assessments by Israel's Shin Bet agency, no red flags were raised, allowing him entry. This lapse has ignited debates about the effectiveness of Israel's security protocols.

In a twist that left many stunned, security footage revealed Qadi casually enjoying pizza at a local Tel Aviv eatery shortly before the attack. The restaurant owner, Chaim Bassan, recalled their brief interaction, noting nothing amiss in Qadi's demeanor.

The victims of the attack were promptly treated, with two sustaining moderate injuries and the other two in stable condition. Authorities are delving into Qadi's activities post-arrival to determine any underlying motives or connections.

This incident isn't isolated. It's part of a series of retaliatory actions linked to ongoing conflicts in Gaza and the West Bank. Notably, in April 2024, a Turkish tourist carried out a stabbing in Jerusalem, and later that year, Jordanian nationals executed shooting attacks near the Israeli-Jordanian border.

Palestinian resistance groups have lauded Qadi's actions. Hamas emphasized that such operations underscore the persistent and growing resistance against occupation and aggression. Similarly, the Palestinian Islamic Jihad Movement highlighted the solidarity of Arab and Muslim communities in opposing occupation-related crimes.

In the aftermath, Israeli Interior Minister Moshe Arbel has called for a thorough investigation into the security oversights that permitted Qadi's entry. This event underscores the escalating tensions and the pressing need for effective security measures in the region.

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