A baby was killed in a stabbing attack that left her mother and 3-year-old sister seriously wounded on Friday morning, in the central city of Hod Hasharon.

Police said it was suspected the father attacked his two children and wife before attempting suicide.

Hebrew media reported that the man told police: “I wanted to kill them.”

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The man was lightly wounded and the Beilinson Hospital issued a statement saying the woman was fighting for her life.

Police said they have opened an investigation into the incident.

The man, 33, was reportedly arrested and taken to Meir Hospital in Kfar Saba under police guard for treatment.

According to the Haaretz daily, the family lived in a residential unit next to the woman’s parents’ home. They were not home at the time of the attack but the woman’s sister was, and she called the police when she heard screams.

Hod Hasharon’s mayor said the family was well-known in the city and the incident was a shock for everyone.

“We will do everything to help the family at this difficult time. This is a family of long-standing in the city, known and loved. This event is a shock to everyone,” said Amir Kochavi.

Last October, the Welfare Ministry issued a report on intimate partner violence in 2018 that found a surge in the number of reported cases of domestic abuse.

According to the ministry, the number of women calling its abuse hotline rose 160 percent between 2014 and 2018, and more than 6,000 victims of domestic violence received treatment last year. In 2018, 1,219 women called the hotline to report spousal abuse.