Efrat (TPS) – An IDF soldier was stabbed in the ribs early Sunday by a Palestinian in Efrat. Security forces shot the terrorist and administered first aid to both the soldier and assailant. Both were evacuated from the scene, treated at the Efrat Emergency Medical Center, and moved to Jerusalem hospitals. The soldier has been listed in moderate condition, and the attacker in serious condition.

The incident began when the Efrat situation room detected a breach in the security fence in the northern neighborhood of Zayit, adjacent to Bethlehem.

“I received an initial call when the security cameras detected someone coming up from the wadi,” said Josh Adler, a resident of Zayit and a member of the local security detail. “That was at 1:53. From then, till about 4-4:30, there were a lot of army and security forces searching the entire neighborhood, every garden, every alleyway, but they didn’t find anything.

“The search party finally disbanded, leaving a smaller force here, that was probably at about 5. About an hour later, I heard yelling. I looked out my window and saw a struggle going on in the wadi. A few seconds later I heard someone yell in pain –  I guess the terrorist came out of hiding, they had some kind of struggle, and the scream turned out to be the soldier,” Adler told Tazpit Press Service (TPS).

IDF officials have not released the name of the wounded soldier, but the soldier’s mother said via WhatsApp that he will apparently require additional treatment to stop internal bleeding.

“We thank God for this miracle and we are very proud of our son, who defended Efrat residents with his body. We hope the IDF will put an end to this wave of terror very quickly.

Efrat Mayor Oded Revivi told TPS that he was thankful that the community’s security apparatus proved effective in real time, but added that the town would continue to remain on alert for attacks.

“This attack indicated an increase in Palestinian attacks, especially in the daring nature of the attacks,” Revivi said.