Residents of Karmiel, a normally quiet Galilee town, were reeling with shock, fear, and anger in the aftermath of a deadly stabbing attack in the busy Hutzot Karmiel shopping mall on Wednesday.
An Israeli man in his 20s was killed and another, also in his 20s, was critically injured when they were stabbed by Jawad Rabia, an Israeli-Arab from the nearby village of Nahf. Security footage posted on social media showed Rabia being shot by a soldier.
“It’s infuriating and confusing. Who would have thought it would come to this,” Gal, an employee at one of the mall’s convenience stores told The Press Service of Israel.
“I was on the first floor when I suddenly heard gunshots. We were rushed into the Roladin café for cover. I fell to the ground, shaking. I’m still very anxious; I don’t know how I’ll get to work the next day or what it will be like here,” she said.