Two wounded in Gush Etzion terror attack

Two Israeli teens were injured, including one moderately to seriously, in a terrorist attack on the Route 60 highway in the Gush Etzion region of Judea on Tuesday afternoon.

Magen David Adom paramedics provided initial treatment to two victims, both of whom were conscious, according to the emergency response organization.

One of the victims, age 15, was rushed to Shaare Zedek Medical Center in Jerusalem with moderate to serious wounds, where he was undergoing tests and further treatment following an initial assessment, the hospital stated.

The second victim, 16, was moderately injured and was undergoing treatment at Hadassah Hospital Ein Kerem in the capital, MDA said.

The Israel Defense Forces confirmed it had received reports of a combined ramming and stabbing at the Al-Khader Junction in its Etzion Brigade deployment area and was probing the circumstances of the incident.

“IDF forces are conducting blockades, surrounding villages and searching the area,” the military added in a Hebrew statement.

According to Ynet, the terrorist drove his car over Israelis gathered at a hitchhiking station. He then exited his car and attempted to stab them.

The terrorist was neutralized by an armed civilian at the scene. He was also evacuated to a hospital for treatment, per Hebrew media reports.

Channel 12 identified the civilian who neutralized the terrorist as IDF Col. (res.) Hezi Nechama, who was suspended from reserve duty last year after he criticized what he called the lack of victory in Gaza.

Yaron Rosenthal, the head of the Gush Etzion Regional Council, stated: “Despite the talk about peace, we are still living in the Middle East and our enemies will continue to try to strike us.

“Together with the security forces, we will continue to ensure the safety of the people of Gush Etzion,” added Rosenthal.

On Sunday, IDF soldier Staff Sgt. Inbar Avraham Kav, 20, was killed during a terrorist attack in the area of the Jit Junction in Samaria.

Rescue Without Borders (Hatzalah Judea and Samaria) reported that one person, later identified as Kav, had suffered a head injury in a vehicular assault near the junction, located near Kedumim.

Hebrew media reported that after being hit by the vehicle, Kav was then struck by gunfire from Israeli soldiers firing on the terrorist, who was identified as a Palestinian from the nearby city of Nablus (Shechem).

Palestinian terrorists targeted Jews in Judea and Samaria at least 6,343 times in 2024, according to figures published by the Rescuers Without Borders (Hatzalah Judea and Samaria) NGO on Feb. 17.

Twenty-seven Israelis were murdered in Judea and Samaria in 2024, and more than 300 others were wounded, the group said in its annual report.