Father of suspect in Tel Aviv stabbing surprised son involved in terror

Islamic Jihad in Gaza issues statement praising attack that critically wounded an IDF soldier.

By KHALED ABU TOAMEH
Nur a-din Abu Hashia‏ (photo credit: PALESTINIAN MEDIA)
Nur a-din Abu Hashia‏
(photo credit: PALESTINIAN MEDIA)
The father of, Nur a-din Abu Hashia, expressed surprise that his son was the suspect in the attack that critically wounded an IDF soldier on Monday afternoon in Tel Aviv.
Khaled Abu Hashia said that his 18-year-old son left home, a refugee camp east of Nablus on Sunday, to search for work inside Israel, he told Palestinian news agency Ma'an.
"He left home normally and there were no strange signs over the past few days," the suspect's father said. He also told Ma'an that he was concerned over his son's fate. 
Ma'an reported that the suspect's family is affiliated with Fatah, although photos of him on social media show him carrying Hamas signs and flags.
Hamas has not claimed responsibility for the attack. 
The Islamic Jihad organization in Gaza  issued a statement on Monday praising the stabbing attack, saying that it was, "the most appropriate response to Israeli crimes against Jerusalem and the al-Aksa Mosque."