Off-duty officer who lost hand in Gaza helped chase down terrorist in Tel Aviv attack

Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian is The Times of Israel's military correspondent

Cpt. 'Aleph' (left) wounded in a stabbing attack in Tel Aviv is seen at Ichilov Hospital alongside an IDF casualty officer, January 21, 2025. (Israel Defense Forces)
Cpt. 'Aleph' (left) wounded in a stabbing attack in Tel Aviv is seen at Ichilov Hospital alongside an IDF casualty officer, January 21, 2025. (Israel Defense Forces)

An off-duty IDF tank officer who had lost a hand during fighting in the Gaza Strip was among those who attempted to neutralize a terrorist who stabbed four people in Tel Aviv last night.

“I fought in Gaza about a year ago. I was injured and lost my right hand. Today I am at the Tactical Command College, in the company commander course,” Cpt. “Aleph” says in a video distributed by the IDF.

“I went out with my friends from the course to Nahalat Binyamin, and during the outing, a terrorist came and tried to stab one of us. As soon as I noticed the incident, I tried to hit the terrorist and we chased him,” he says.

The Armored Corps officer was lightly hurt in the attack, and says he will return to his course tomorrow.

The terrorist, a Moroccan national with a US green card, was eventually shot dead at the scene.

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