One person was killed and at least 16 injured when a truck driven by an Israeli Arab in Tel Aviv smashed into cars and pedestrians in a suspected terror attack.
The driver, a 22-year-old man from the Israeli-Arab town of Kfar Kassem in central Israel, was arrested in the Sunday morning incident. May 15 is designated by the Arab world as Nakba or Catastrophe Day, referring to the day that Israel obtained statehood.
The driver reportedly told police that his tire had exploded, causing him to lose control of the truck, a scenario that police reportedly doubt.
The truck drove for about two miles down a major thoroughfare in Tel Aviv, hitting cars, several buses, a motorcycle and pedestrians; it also knocked down traffic lights and security rails. The driver drove off in the truck following the destruction but was arrested shortly after.
In 2008, Palestinian truck drivers from eastern Jerusalem killed three and injured dozens in two attacks on Jerusalem streets in a three-week period. Last year, a Palestinian tractor driver from eastern Jerusalem used a tractor to hit two Israeli cars in the northern West Bank.
Israel increased its police presence throughout the country on Sunday, particularly in areas with large Arab populations and where large demonstrations and conflicts were expected due to Nakba Day. The West Bank was closed through Sunday night.
Later Sunday, Israeli troops fired on demonstrators who attempted to enter Israel through its border with Israel during a Nakba Day protest.
At least four infiltrators were reported killed and dozens wounded as hundreds of Palestinians entered the northern town of Majdal Shams which is located on Israel's border with Syria.
At least 400 Palestinian infiltrators are said to have entered Israel, while some have put the number as high as 1,000, according to Israeli media reports.
Clashes continued in eastern Jerusalem on Sunday, a day after the funeral of a teenage Palestinian who died after being shot during a demonstration on Friday. It is alleged that Milad Said Ayyash was shot during the demonstration in Silwan by a security guard for several Jewish families who live in the controversial Beit Yonatan.
Palestinian demonstrators also threw firebombs at Hadassah Hospital on Mount Scopus.