West Bank Stabbing Victim Recounts Fight With Attacker

Natanel Yaakovs, 19, who was seriously wounded in a stabbing attack in the West Bank on Monday, described the moments of terror he experienced with his Palestinian assailant. Speaking from Beilinson Hospital in Petah Tikva, Yaakovs recounted, "I fought with him, chased him with a rock, and then I saw I was covered in blood and had stab wounds to my head, neck, and hand." The attack occurred when the Palestinian assailant entered the Ma'oz Yehuda farm near the village of Usarin and stabbed Yaakovs multiple times. Magen David Adom paramedics provided initial treatment at the scene before he was evacuated to the hospital. The attacker fled but was located about an hour later by soldiers from the 411th Artillery Battalion in the village of Qabalan. When the terrorist attempted to stab the soldiers at close range, he was killed by the company commander. Yaakovs further detailed the struggle, "I punched him, pushed him, he fell on the floor and I was with him. We were both on the floor, I tried to pick up a rock to throw at his head but couldn't reach. He had his knife, it broke and only the blade remained. He tried to keep stabbing me with it. I reached him, choked him, and then he managed to escape towards his car."

Yaakovs' parents, Aviel and Pnena, expressed gratitude for his survival, stating, "We thank God, that on the day of creation, our son Natanel was reborn." They added, "The IDF and the country's leaders must wake up and take a truly firm hand against every terrorist village from which a terrorist emerges. Destroy homes, collect all weapons, and do not be satisfied with routine operations." They also emphasized the importance of farms in controlling open areas and keeping terrorists away from settlements.

Magen David Adom received the report of the attack at 10:38 AM. Paramedic Aviel Mamlia described finding the victim conscious with multiple stab wounds, receiving initial treatment alongside IDF medical personnel before being transported to the hospital in serious condition. His condition later stabilized.

Head of the Samaria Regional Council, Yossi Dagan, called the attack "very difficult" and urged a broad military operation in the area, including house-to-house searches, weapon collection, and dismantling terrorist infrastructure.