Attack in Israeli city of Kiryat Gat comes as US secretary of state John Kerry unveils plans to visit region

This article is more than 4 years old

This article is more than 4 years old

Four Israelis have been stabbed and wounded in the the southern city of Kiryat Gat, Israeli police said.

The attack on Saturday took place shortly after an announcement in Washington that the US secretary of state, John Kerry, would travel to the region to meet with Israeli and Palestinian leaders to try to calm tensions.

The four Israelis were stabbed by an attacker near the football stadium, police said, adding that the suspect had fled and extensive searches were being conducted in the area.

Israel’s emergency medical service, Magen David Adom, said the victims included a man and woman in their 50s, a women in her 40s and a 13-year-old girl, who were moderately wounded but in stable condition.

Police initially called the incident a “confirmed terrorist attack”, but later modified their definition to call it a “suspected terror attack”. The incident bore the characteristics of a spate of attacks by Palestinians, predominantly stabbings, since the beginning of October, including in Kiryat Gat.

The wave of violence has left 86 Palestinians dead – many of them alleged assailants – as well as 15 Israelis, an American and an Eritrean.

Against the polarised backdrop, Kerry is due to visit Israel and the West Bank next week to push for the violence to end. Peace talks proper between Israel and the Palestinians have been frozen since April 2014.

Kerry is due to arrive on Tuesday to visit Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and Ramallah for talks with senior Israeli and Palestinian officials. He will also use the opportunity to discuss issues including Syria and Islamic State.