Mu'tasim al-Qaq
Mu'tasim al-Qaq is a 59-year-old bus driver for the Superbus company who became a focal point of national discussion regarding driver safety in Israel after being violently attacked in Jerusalem.
Mu'tasim al-Qaq is a veteran driver employed by Superbus, one of Israel's private public transport operators. In August 2026, al-Qaq was the victim of a severe physical assault while operating his route in Jerusalem. According to reports, the incident occurred while he was waiting at a traffic light, where he was targeted by a group of youths. The violence was significant enough that al-Qaq lost consciousness and required emergency medical intervention. In subsequent interviews, he described the experience as life-threatening, stating he 'saw death in his eyes.'
The case of al-Qaq has highlighted the ongoing friction and security challenges faced by public transport workers in Israel's capital. While the specific motives of the attackers remain under police investigation, the incident triggered immediate reactions from labor organizations and transport unions. These groups have used al-Qaq’s ordeal to renew their demands for increased security measures, such as the installation of protective partitions for drivers and a more robust police presence on sensitive routes. For the Israeli public and security establishment, the incident serves as a reminder of the vulnerability of essential service providers and the potential for localized violence to disrupt the fabric of daily life in Jerusalem. The Israel Police are currently handling the investigation into the assault to identify and apprehend the suspects involved.