Witness Recounts Terror at West Bank Spring During Deadly Attack

Nehemia Hazan, a resident of Beit Aryeh, described the harrowing moments he and a friend experienced while visiting Ein Ria spring near the settlement of Neve Tzuf for a pre-Yom Kippur immersion. Hazan recounted that shortly after their arrival, four individuals armed with weapons left the area. Minutes later, loud explosions were heard, initially mistaken for fireworks.

Hazan then observed a military jeep suddenly stop, and a soldier emerged with a drawn weapon, confirming his suspicion of a terrorist attack. He described the confusion and fear as they realized a terrorist was present, with bullets flying and no clear direction for escape. Hazan and others present, estimated to be between ten and fifteen unarmed individuals, hid.

He explained that the attacker had approached Natanel Shkaron, who was killed at the entrance to the spring, before attempting to enter the bathing area. Hazan credited the soldier, who heard the gunfire and rushed to the scene, with preventing the attacker from reaching the unarmed group. "If the soldier hadn't been there, the terrorist would have reached us," Hazan stated.

Hazan filmed a video of the scene, driven by a sense of helplessness, and contacted the police. He noted that the situation felt less dangerous once the shooting stopped, assuming the soldier had engaged the attacker. Emergency services arrived shortly after, and Hazan directed them to Shkaron's young son, who was crying and initially thought to be suffering from shock.

It was later understood that Shkaron had sustained fatal injuries, and Hazan expressed the gravity of the situation upon realizing the extent of the casualties. The group gradually emerged from their hiding places as more forces secured the area.