IDF: Palestinian tries to stab soldiers near Hebron, is shot, critically injured

Army says assailant hospitalized after incident at West Bank settlement of Kiryat Arba

By ToI Staff 11 January 2019, 5:19 pm

Edit

An Israeli settler shows a picture on his cellphone of a Palestinian who attempted a stabbing attack as he is taken away by Israeli soldiers, at the entrance of the Givat Avot neighborhood in the West Bank settlement of Kiryat Arba, on January 11, 2019. (Hazem Bader/AFP)

A Palestinian man tried to carry out a stabbing attack near the West Bank city of Hebron on Friday and was shot and critically injured by troops, the army said.

The Israel Defense Forces said the attacker was “neutralized” after attempting to stab soldiers at an army post near the Jewish settlement of Kiryat Arba, and was taken to the hospital.

Channel 10 news released video footage showing the wounded attacker on the ground covered by a blanket and a knife on the sidewalk nearby. Other images showed the assailant being taken away by troops on a stretcher.

There were no other injuries.

In addition to the soldiers, the IDF said an Israeli civilian also fired at the assailant.

The army said additional troops were dispatched to the Givat Avot neighborhood, where the incident took place.

Hebron and its environs are a frequent flashpoint, with the southern West Bank city divided between Israeli and Palestinian control and the two populations often coming into contact with each other.