Palestinian bus hits 7 Palestinian workers in Bethlehem, killing 2; driver flees

Incident occurs near Rachel’s Tomb; police begin widespread search

By ToI Staff 2 December 2020, 8:12 am Edit

The scene of a suspected hit-and-run by a bus near Rachel's Tomb in Bethlehem, December 2, 2020. (Magen David Adom)

In an apparent hit-and-run, a bus hit seven Palestinian workers Wednesday morning near a crossing between the West Bank city of Bethlehem and Israel, killing two of them.

The bus, which is also Palestinian and which had been empty of passengers, fled the scene, the Israel Police said in a statement.

Israeli and Palestinian medics arrived at the scene, near the Rachel’s Tomb shrine, and pronounced one of the people dead.

Magen David Adom paramedics said the 27-year-old man had been trapped beneath the bus and was found without any vital signs.

Medics initially said that one other was moderately injured and the others suffered mild injuries. Five of them were taken to Jerusalem hospitals, while another was taken to a West Bank hospital by the Red Crescent.