The Palestinian driver whose bus ploughed into a crowd of Israelis, killing eight, was on medication, his family said yesterday. Family members said Khalil Abu Elba had visited a pharmacy to buy medicine for stomach pains the day before he veered the bus into the crowd of soldiers and civilians in Azur, south of Tel Aviv, on Wednesday.
A pharmacist in Gaza confirmed giving Abu Elba medicine to heal the "terrible" pain in his stomach.
He said Abu Elba used occasionally to take medication usually prescribed for depression.
Abu Elba's mother, Fatma, feared she would never see her son again and urged human rights organisations to bring her information about her son's health and to help seek his release.