Attempted Stabbing Attack Near Cave of the Patriarchs

A Hebron resident in his twenties attempted to stab Border Police officers at a checkpoint near the Cave of the Patriarchs in the Hebron hills on Thursday. The attacker was neutralized and Israeli security forces suffered no casualties. The area was cordoned off and the incident is being being further investigated.

According to initial reports, the assailant was shot in the lower body, but remained fully conscious.

This attack follows two separate incidents in the last two days. On Israel’s Independence Day, a Jewish Israeli man from Pisgat Ze’ev was shot and killed at the Hizma checkpoint outside Jerusalem as the police thought he was attempting a stabbing attack against the security forces. During the ensuing investigation, the police found a suicide note written by the Jerusalem resident and ruled the incident as “suicide by soldier.” On Wednesday, a 21-year-old from Shuafat drew a knife at the security guards stationed at the Shuafat crossing. The suspect was arrested. In both cases, no injuries were sustained by the security force or Israeli civilians.