Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir on Tuesday visited the scene of the deadly terrorist attack at the Gush Etzion Junction in Judea earlier in the day, praising the response of the reservists who eliminated the two assailants.
Zamir shared his sympathies with the families of the victims of the attack, which claimed the life of Aharon Cohen, 71, of Kiryat Arba, and left three others wounded.
“Today we faced a difficult incident in which an Israeli civilian was killed and three others were injured,” the IDF chief of staff said. “The reserve troops once again demonstrated the spirit of combat and their preparedness to stand on the front line. Alongside the difficult incident, I want to express deep appreciation and recognition. In today’s event we saw a drive to engage, determination and professionalism, exactly as we expect and as we instill in the IDF. You prevented an even more severe incident.”
“The troops remained alert and with composure and removed a threat against Israeli civilians. We will be required to continue remaining vigilant alongside intense and offensive activity—this is our mission in protecting the communities and the residents,” he continued.
“We will continue to review the incident, to learn and to improve, in order to meet the missions we have set for ourselves and to protect the civilians of Israel,” Zamir concluded.
The chief of staff ordered troops to strengthen defenses along roads and in communities and to continue offensive operations, including mapping and demolishing the homes of the attackers in Beit Ummar and Hebron.
Several explosive materials were discovered in the vehicle used by the terrorists, according to the military. Police bomb-disposal specialists worked to neutralize the explosives.
Gush Etzion is a major crossroads in Judea and Samaria, located south of Jerusalem and Bethlehem. It has been the scene of previous terrorist attacks, including an attack in September that wounded two Israeli teens.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu linked the attack to Jerusalem’s war effort to defeat Hamas in Gaza.
“Today, we experienced another Palestinian terrorist attack, and we are determined to complete the war on all fronts, including disarming Hamas and demilitarizing the Gaza Strip to ensure that Gaza will no longer pose a greater danger,” he said.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar condemned the attack, saying it makes the case against the establishment of a Palestinian state.
“Today, Palestinian terrorists struck the heart of Israel. The car ramming and stabbing in Gush Etzion, right outside of Jerusalem, killed a 71-year-old man and injured three civilians,” he said. “The Palestinian Authority refuses to condemn this heinous terror attack, and continues its ‘pay for slay’ policy. This further demonstrates why a Palestinian state cannot and will not be established.”
U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee said that “we stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Israel” following the “vicious attack,” condemning the
“cowardly acts of savage violence” and adding that along with his wife, Janet, he is praying for the victims and their families.
Speaking to the media, the father of one of the Palestinian terrorists praised his son, saying, “The thing I most looked forward to in my life was to become the father of a martyr.”
