"They thought he was a terrorist and opened fire": New details on the deadly hit-and-run in Hadera

The Haifa Magistrate's Court extended by five days the remand of Mahmoud Samakhat, a 21-year-old from Kafr Manda, suspected of running over and killing Amichai Atiya, 17, from Itamar, in the parking lot of a shopping complex in Hadera. Police are investigating the incident in the context of a confrontation between those involved, and have ruled out a nationalist motive. Samakhat was wounded by gunfire from armed individuals at the scene, who thought he was a terrorist.

The Haifa Magistrate's Court today (Friday) extended by five days the remand of Mahmoud Samakhat, a 21-year-old from Kafr Manda in the Lower Galilee, suspected of running over and killing yeshiva student Amichai Atiya, 17, from Itamar. The incident occurred early in the morning in the parking lot of the "Mall HaHof Village" shopping complex in Hadera. Atiya was struck by a vehicle, evacuated in critical condition to Hillel Yaffe Hospital, where his death was determined. Police attribute to Samakhat suspicions of causing death by reckless driving, leaving the scene after causing injury, and endangering human life. In the hearing, a police representative explained that the incident was initially received as a terror attack, but the investigation ruled out a nationalist motive. According to him, Samakhat was wounded by gunfire from armed individuals at the scene, who thought he was a terrorist and opened fire to neutralize him. The armed individuals were questioned but not arrested. Samakhat's defense attorney claims his client was caught in a lynching and had to flee to survive. The investigation continues.