Bus Driver Claims He Didn't Notice Haredi Teen in Fatal Ramming

The bus driver suspected of fatally running over 16-year-old Naftali Tzvi Kramer, a student at the Satmar Yeshiva, at the entrance to Moshav Komemiyut in southern Israel, maintains he did not notice the teen at the time of the incident. This account emerged from his police interrogation, as reported by Ynet on Wednesday.

During a court hearing in Ashkelon on the matter, the driver's attorney questioned a police representative about whether officers present at the scene were responsible for clearing protesters from the road.

The representative confirmed officers were on site but stated their role did not include removing demonstrators. Instead, he emphasized that the driver should have slowed down and not accelerated toward the crowd.

At the conclusion of the hearing, the court ordered the driver's release. Police, who had requested a 10-day extension of his detention, announced they would appeal the decision.

The incident follows footage captured moments before the fatal run-over, raising questions about the driver's conduct.

In a video recorded inside the bus, a female passenger is heard shouting in fear: "Here are all the boys, what is he doing? Crazy, oh mom, these are boys, enough, mom, crazy." Seconds later, a loud scream erupts as passengers witness the impact.

United Torah Judaism chairman MK Yitzhak Goldknopf discussed the disturbing footage with National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir. Goldknopf stated: "The new footage, showing the bus driver accelerating toward the group of protesters, with passengers noting he is raging, leaves no doubt that the action was done maliciously." Ben-Gvir assured him during the conversation that he views the event with utmost seriousness.