A 70-year-old man was killed and at least four other people were wounded in a stabbing attack Monday in the northern Israeli city of Haifa, officials have said.

       Israeli authorities said the attacker, who was reported to be an Israeli Druze man from the town of Shfram who had recently returned from abroad, was killed at the scene. The Druze are a religious off-shoot group of Shia Islam, and comprise around 1.5% of Israel's population.

       Alongside the 70-year-old man, who died at the HaMifratz Central train and bus station on Monday morning, a 15-year-old boy and a man and women in their 30s were in a serious condition and a 70-year-old woman sustained moderate injuries.

       A witness told the Walla news website that the attacker, who was shot dead by security guards, arrived on a bus from Shafram and began stabbing fellow passengers after it pulled into Haifa.

       The attack took place as regional tensions are high surrounding the fate of the ceasefire in Gaza and police said they were treating it as a militant attack.

       READ MORE: BBC doc branded 'Hamas propaganda' was seen by boss weeks before airing [REPORT]

       Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu paid tribute to the 70-year-old man who was killed in the attack in a statement condemning "those who seek to take our lives everywhere" and pledging to "fight and defeat them".

       "My wife Sara and I send our deepest condolences to the family of the man who was murdered in the shocking terrorist attack in Haifa," Mr Netanyahu added.

       A spokesperson for Hamas appeared to take credit for the fatal incident, stating that it had been orchestrated by "one of our people's heroes".

       Don't miss...

       UK charity raising money for Gaza 'faces police probe over Hamas funding fears' [REPORT]

       Israel agrees to Gaza ceasefire extension after phase one period expires [REPORT]

       GB News issues urgent 'breaking news' – and it's huge blow for BBC [REPORT]

       They also described the attack as a "natural response" to the war in Gaza and perceived Israeli crimes against Gaza civilians.

       Tensions between Israel and Hamas have risen to fever pitch in recent days, after the first phase of a hostage deal elapsed with no further agreement in place.

       The latest attack comes after Israel blocked humanitarian aid from entering Gaza on Sunday following a disagreement over the extension of the ceasefire.