Two Israeli Defense Forces soldiers were lightly wounded on Tuesday morning in a Palestinian terrorist attack outside the community of Ateret in Samaria’s Binyamin region, the military confirmed.
“Following a report about a suspect near the community of Ateret in the Binyamin Brigade, IDF forces rushed to the location,” according to an IDF statement.
When the soldiers approached the suspect, “he began to stab the force, which responded with gunfire toward him and neutralized him,” the statement continued, adding that additional forces were rushed to the scene.
In a subsequent statement, the military said it closed the entrances to the nearby Arab village of Arura and set up roadblocks in the area in response to the stabbing attack.
The Binyamin Regional Council, which has jurisdiction over many communities in central Samaria, including Ateret, said that a more serious terror attack was prevented with the help of a resident who reported the suspect walking by the side of the road with a bag.
“Thanks to the vigilance of our residents, a far more serious attack was prevented,” stated Binyamin Regional Council head Israel Ganz, who also heads the Yesha Council umbrella group of Jewish communities.
“I want to commend the alert resident who reported the suspect, the [1208] hotline that works day and night for the residents of Binyamin, the Ateret situation room that tracked the terrorist and the brave IDF soldiers who sought engagement and eliminated him,” Ganz added.
In a separate terror attack overnight Monday, an IDF soldier sustained injuries in a vehicular assault at the Judea Junction in the Hebron area.
According to the army, a terrorist accelerated his vehicle toward soldiers stationed at the junction, striking and injuring a female soldier. She was evacuated to the hospital for treatment and her family was notified.
Troops opened fire at the terrorist, who managed to flee the scene. He was killed after a manhunt, the IDF announced in a later statement.
“The terrorist was identified in the Hebron area by the security forces while inside the vehicle he used to carry out the attack,” the IDF said.
“During the apprehension attempt, the terrorist attempted to flee while endangering the forces, who responded with live fire and eliminated the terrorist,” according to the military.
“The security forces will continue to operate to thwart terrorism in the area, and against anyone who harms or attempts to cause harm to Israeli civilians and the security forces,” the statement concluded.
Palestinian terrorists targeted Israeli Jews in Judea and Samaria at least 6,343 times in 2024, according to Hatzalah Judea and Samaria figures.
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.
