Stabbing Attack Near Nablus, Two Arrested After Attempted Break-In To Community

Har Bracha (TPS) – A stabbing attack took place in the community of Har Bracha near Nablus at a military checkpost at around 7:20pm on Wednesday, March 2. Two terrorists suddenly approached two soldiers on guard at the checkpost and stabbed them.

One of the soldiers was taken to Beilinson hospital in moderate condition with a knife still lodged in his shoulder. The second victim was treated for wounds to the face at the scene but was only evacuated to hospital one hour after the incident in light condition.

At the time of the attack, the soldiers’ guns were placed to one side leaving them vulnerable and without a quick method of response. When medical teams arrived at the scene, the soldiers had left their weapons at the checkpost raising fears that they had been stolen by the terrorists who had fled the scene.

One eye witness at the scene, Avigdor, told Tazpit Press Service (TPS) that he and a group of people were sitting nearby when they heard screaming. “I was sitting and talking with a group of Christians who are here volunteering to help in Judea, Samaria and Binyamin when suddenly we heard screaming outside. We went out and I saw two people one of whom had a knife stuck in his shoulder but he was on his feet. They were soldiers and I, as a medic, provided first aid and realized that their situation was not too serious.”

“I called the emergency services and then MADA paramedics and security forces arrived. We were very worried that the terrorists had stolen the guns and would use them to shoot us but the security forces arrived and it became more relaxed. They did a great job,” he said.

One of the Christian volunteers present at the scene also told TPS: “All of us were sitting in this tent nearby eating dinner and we heard soldier shouting and then realized they had been stabbed. They looked like they had been stabbed multiple times. It was so lucky that Avigdor was able to help them. We are surrounded by a culture of death. Islamic communities want to die for their religion. As we stand alongside our Jewish brothers it gives me the greatest feeling I have ever felt.”

“I think it is horrendous that the world is turning a blind eye to what is going on here. The rest of the world is falling apart and Israel is alive,” the volunteer told TPS.

Security forces launched a widescale manhunt in the area in search of the terrorists and began scouring Burin Village located nearby.

In a separate incident at approximately the same time, two individuals were arrested by security forces after they were suspected of attempting to break in to the community of Yitzhar southwest of Nablus. Initial reports of the investigation of the two suspects revealed that they likely intended to carry out an attack and were armed with light weapons. There is no evidence that the two attacks were related.