Incident Near Jerusalem: Truck Attack and Shooting
October 27, 2024, 1:38 pm

Incident Near Jerusalem: Truck Attack and Shooting

حادثا دهس بالقدس

The correspondent for Al-Arabiya and Al-Hadath reported preliminary information about an attempted vehicle attack north of Jerusalem and gunfire directed at the assailant at a checkpoint in the town of Hizma, located to the north of Jerusalem.

The correspondent also mentioned that at least five individuals were killed in a vehicle attack near the Gillelot base north of Tel Aviv.

Earlier, he reported that 50 people were injured, including 20 soldiers, after a truck crashed into a bus station near the Mossad headquarters north of Tel Aviv. He added that Israeli police shot the truck driver, who was later declared dead.

On Sunday, the Israeli police stated that a driver rammed his truck into a crowd of passengers at a bus station in central Israel, resulting in at least 24 injuries before he was "neutralized."

Investigations indicated that the driver struck the passengers after a bus had stopped to drop off riders at the station. The police confirmed that the Magen David Adom emergency service reported 24 people injured with varying degrees of severity. They noted that "civilians fired at the truck driver and hit him." The statement emphasized that "the circumstances of the incident are under investigation."

The Magen David Adom service had previously issued a brief statement saying, "At 10:08 AM (08:08 GMT), a report was received about a truck collision with a bus station on Aharon Yariv Street in Ramat Hasharon." They confirmed that "paramedics are currently providing medical care at the scene for dozens of injuries."

In a later statement, Magen David reported that at least 16 injuries were transported to nearby hospitals.

For its part, the Israeli police confirmed multiple injuries and stated that their personnel and ambulances rushed to the scene of the incident.

Earlier, the police speculated that the assailant was from East Jerusalem and that the attack stemmed from "nationalistic" motives.

Israeli Channel 12 reported that the assailant in the vehicle attack near the Gillelot base is a 48 Arab citizen holding Israeli nationality.

Additionally, the Israeli website (Walla) indicated that 10 of the injured are in critical condition.

Yedioth Ahronoth reported that there were individuals trapped under the truck as a result of the vehicle attack near the Gillelot base.

Furthermore, the Israeli website 0404 stated that a suspected vehicle attack occurred, resulting in numerous casualties at a bus station at the Gilot intersection north of Tel Aviv, adding that forces were on their way to the scene.

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BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the company’s headquarters in the Seef District.
During the meeting, shareholders approved all items listed on the agenda, including the ratification of the minutes of the previous AGM held on 26 March 2024. The session reviewed and approved the Board’s Annual Report on the company’s activities and financial performance for the fiscal year ended 31 December 2024, and the shareholders expressed their satisfaction with the company’s operational and financial results during the reporting period.
The meeting also reviewed the Independent External Auditor’s Report on the company’s consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024. Subsequently, the shareholders approved the audited financial statements for the fiscal year. Based on the Board’s recommendation, the shareholders approved the distribution of a cash dividend equivalent to 10% of the paid-up share capital.
Furthermore, the shareholders endorsed the allocation of a total amount of BD 172,500 as remuneration to the members of the Board for the year ended 31 December 2024, subject to prior clearance by related authorities.
The extension of the current composition of the Board was approved, which includes ten members and one CBB observer, for a further six-month term, expiring in September 2025, pending no objection from the CBB.
The meeting reviewed and approved the Corporate Governance Report for 2024, which affirmed the company’s full compliance with the corporate governance directives issued by the CBB and other applicable regulatory frameworks. The AGM absolved the Board Members of liability for any of their actions during the year ending on 31st December 2024, in accordance with the Commercial Companies Law.
In alignment with regulatory requirements, the session approved the reappointment of Ernst & Young (EY) as the company’s External Auditors for the fiscal year 2025, covering both the parent company and its subsidiaries—Sinnad and Bahrain FinTech Bay. The Board was authorised to determine the external auditors’ professional fees, subject to approval from the CBB, and the meeting concluded with a discussion of any additional issues as per Article (207) of the Commercial Companies Law.
Speaking on the company’s performance, Mr. Mohamed Al Bastaki, Chairman BENEFIT , stated: “In terms of the financial results for 2024, I am pleased to say that the year gone by has also been proved to be a success in delivering tangible results. Growth rate for 2024 was 19 per cent. Revenue for the year was BD 17 M (US$ 45.3 Million) and net profit was 2 Million ($ 5.3 Million).

Mr. Al Bastaki also announced that the Board had formally adopted a new three-year strategic roadmap to commence in 2025. The strategy encompasses a phased international expansion, optimisation of internal operations, enhanced revenue diversification, long-term sustainability initiatives, and the advancement of innovation and digital transformation initiatives across all service lines.
“I extend my sincere appreciation to the CBB for its continued support of BENEFIT and its pivotal role in fostering a stable and progressive regulatory environment for the Kingdom’s banking and financial sector—an environment that has significantly reinforced Bahrain’s standing as a leading financial hub in the region,” said Mr. Al Bastaki. “I would also like to thank our partner banks and valued customers for their trust, and our shareholders for their ongoing encouragement. The achievements of 2024 set a strong precedent, and I am confident they will serve as a foundation for yet another successful and impactful year ahead.”
Chief Executive of BENEFIT; Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi commented, “The year 2024 represented another pivotal chapter in BENEFIT ’s evolution. We achieved substantial progress in advancing our digital strategy across multiple sectors, while reinforcing our long-term commitment to the development of Bahrain’s financial services and payments landscape. Throughout the year, we remained firmly aligned with our objective of delivering measurable value to our shareholders, strategic partners, and customers. At the same time, we continued to play an active role in enabling Bahrain’s digital economy by introducing innovative solutions and service enhancements that directly address market needs and future opportunities.”
Mr. AlJanahi affirmed that BENEFIT has successfully developed a robust and well-integrated payment network that connects individuals and businesses across Bahrain, accelerating the adoption of emerging technologies in the banking and financial services sector and reinforcing Bahrain’s position as a growing fintech hub, and added, “Our achievements of the past year reflect a long-term vision to establish a resilient electronic payment infrastructure that supports the Kingdom’s digital economy. Key developments in 2024 included the implementation of central authentication for open banking via BENEFIT Pay”
Mr. AlJanahi concluded by thanking the Board for its strategic direction, the company’s staff for their continued dedication, and the Central Bank of Bahrain, member banks, and shareholders for their valuable partnership and confidence in the company’s long-term vision.