Tel Aviv Dan company bus driver Herzl Biton has regained consciousness after being stabbed repeatedly by a Palestinian Authority Arab terrorist who attacked him while he was driving.
Despite his wounds, he managed to stop the Number 40 bus and open the door to let the passengers escape from the knife-wielding terrorist.
Biton, 55, was seriously wounded in Wednesday’s attack (Jan. 21).
He is hospitalized at Ichilov Medical Center in Tel Aviv. “He fought the terrorist and got hurt more. Please pray for a speedy and full recovery,” his son Yaniv requested.
Biton underwent surgery and was sedated for hours. Although he is no longer fighting for his life, the driver is still in serious condition. As of Thursday morning eight people were still hospitalized from the attack.
Still fighting for her life and hospitalized at Sourasky is a 69-year-old woman also stabbed by the terrorist.
Two other victims in the same attack are listed in fair condition at Tel Aviv’s Sheba Medical Center. Both are expected to recover.
Hamza Matrouk, 23, of Tulkarm confessed that he launched the attack in hopes of “reaching paradise” in response to radical Islamist jihad programs he had seen on television. He told investigators the attack was also carried out in retaliation for last summer’s IDF counter terror Operation Protective Edge in Gaza, and recent disturbances on the Temple Mount.
Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) agents and IDF soldiers launched a joint operation this morning (Thursday, Jan. 22) to search Matrouk’s home and those of two family members near Tulkarm. Two arrests were made, according to a report broadcast on Army Radio.
A second lone wolf terror stabbing attempt was made by another Palestinian Arab this morning, less than 24 hours after yesterday’s attack.
Police officers in Ra’anana found themselves suddenly struggling with a Palestinian Arab man trying to stab them during an arrest.
The 22-year-old terrorist, a resident of the Palestinian Authority, was originally being detained because he did not have a permit to enter Israel.
While searching him police discovered the man had a knife, but found him suddenly trying to stab them with an additional blade.
No injuries were reported. The attacker was transferred to security personnel at a Kfar Saba precinct for further questioning.