Mon Mar 03 17:30:58 UTC 2025: **Haifa Stabbing Kills One, Reignites Tensions Amid Gaza Truce Impasse**
HAIFA, ISRAEL—A stabbing attack in Haifa, Israel, on March 3, 2025, left one dead and four injured, marking the first fatal attack in Israel since a Gaza ceasefire began in late January. The assailant, identified as a member of Israel’s Druze Arab minority, was killed at the scene by security personnel and a civilian. The attack occurred at a busy bus and train station.
The incident comes amidst heightened tensions surrounding the Gaza ceasefire. Israel’s recent decision to halt aid to the Gaza Strip, following an impasse over extending the truce, has drawn international condemnation. The UN has urged Israel to immediately restore aid deliveries, echoing concerns raised by Egypt and Qatar, who accuse Israel of violating the ceasefire agreement. Germany and Britain have also criticized Israel’s actions.
The six-week initial phase of the ceasefire ended over the weekend, with Hamas rejecting Israel’s proposed extension and calling for a transition to the second phase of the agreement. Hamas officials accuse Israel of intentionally sabotaging the truce to avoid negotiations for a permanent peace. Israel, however, accuses Hamas of violating the ceasefire.
The ceasefire had initially brought a relative calm after more than 15 months of intense conflict between Israel and Hamas, which began with a deadly Hamas attack on October 7, 2023. That attack resulted in over 1,200 deaths in Israel, while Israel’s subsequent military response in Gaza caused an estimated 48,400 deaths. The ongoing hostage situation, with 58 Israeli captives still held in Gaza, further complicates the situation.
Protests erupted in Jerusalem over the weekend, with Israelis demanding the government secure the release of the remaining hostages. Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces mounting criticism for the handling of the truce negotiations, with some within his coalition threatening to quit if the conflict resumes. Netanyahu also appeared in court on Monday to testify in his ongoing corruption trial. Despite the truce, Israel reported conducting air strikes in Gaza on Sunday and Monday, citing security concerns. Arab foreign ministers are meeting in Cairo to discuss a Gaza reconstruction plan.
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