Israeli soldier stabbed near Hebron, moderately hurt; attacker shot dead

Attacker emerged from a taxi and pulled a knife out of a plastic bag; clashes erupt at scene near West Bank settlement of Kiryat Arba

By Emanuel Fabian 2 September 2022, 4:06 pmUpdated at 5:08 pm Edit

Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian is The Times of Israel’s military correspondent.

Israeli soldiers and police officers are seen at the scene of a stabbing attack near the West Bank city of Hebron, September 2, 2022 (HAZEM BADER / AFP)

An Israeli soldier was moderately hurt in a stabbing attack near the West Bank city of Hebron Friday afternoon, close to the settlement of Kiryat Arba, the military and medics said. The attacker was shot dead.

The IDF said the two soldiers were securing the Route 60 highway, which passes near the Palestinian city, when the assailant attacked them.

Media reports indicated the attacker emerged from a taxi with a plastic bag from which he pulled the knife and stabbed one of the soldiers.

The Palestinian stabber was shot by the wounded soldier’s comrade. The soldier who shot the assailant later made a statement released to the media.

“The assailant arrived from behind us and stabbed one of the soldiers, I didn’t hesitate and neutralized the assailant. As a medic I gave life-saving medical care to my squad sergeant,” said Cpl. Mem of the Givati Infantry Brigade, who could only be identified by the initial of his Hebrew name.

The stabbing victim, in his 20s, was taken to the Hadassah Ein Kerem Medical Center in Jerusalem after sustaining a moderate injury, according to the Magen David Adom ambulance service.

According to Palestinian media reports, clashes erupted at the scene following the attack.

The stabber was later named by Palestinian media as Fadi Muhammed Ghattas from the Dheisha refugee camp near Bethlehem.

A knife used by a Palestinian assailant who stabbed a soldier is seen at the scene of the attack near the West Bank city of Hebron, September 2, 2022 (Israel Defense Forces)

Prime Minister Yair Lapid wished the injured soldier a speedy recovery and hailed the other soldier at the scene who “acted with determination to neutralize the terrorist.”

“We will continue to fight anyone who tries to harm our citizens and soldiers. Shabbat Shalom to all the soldiers of the IDF and the security forces. Take care of yourselves,” the premier added.

Givati Brigade commander Col. Eliad Maor visits a soldier wounded in a stabbing attack near the West Bank city of Hebron, September 2, 2022 (Israel Defense Forces)

Tensions have escalated in the West Bank recently, with Israeli security forces stepping up arrest raids and operations following a deadly wave of terror attacks that left 19 people dead earlier this year.

Early Friday, Israeli troops arrested three wanted Palestinians in raids across the West Bank, with violent incidents in some areas, the IDF said.

Content retrieved from: https://www.timesofisrael.com/man-moderately-hurt-in-stabbing-attack-near-hebron-suspect-shot/?utm_source=article_hpsidebar&utm_medium=desktop_site&utm_campaign=us-said-to-be-very-troubled-by-surge-of-violence-rising-tensions-in-west-bank.