Witness Recounts Terror During West Bank Terror Attack

Nehemia Hazan, a resident of Beit Aryeh, recounted the terrifying moments he witnessed near the Neve Tzuf settlement on Yom Kippur eve, when a Palestinian assailant murdered Natanel Kron. Hazan and a friend were at the Ein Ri'a spring for ritual immersion when armed individuals present at the site departed shortly before the attack.

Hazan described hearing loud explosions and initially mistaking them for fireworks. He then saw a military jeep arrive and a soldier emerge with a drawn weapon, realizing it was a terror attack. He and others present hid, unsure of the attacker's location or the trajectory of the gunfire.

After the shooting stopped, confusion persisted as they knew the attacker had not been apprehended and was still in the area. Hazan later understood that the assailant had approached the spring, encountered Kron at the entrance, and attacked him before intending to proceed further. He emphasized that the soldier's intervention prevented the attacker from reaching their group, who were unarmed and exposed.

Hazan filmed the scene and called the police, reporting the incident and urging for assistance. He felt a sense of helplessness, noting their exposed position in a shelter. He stated that the soldier's presence likely reduced the immediate danger to them.

Following the arrival of security forces, Hazan learned the severity of the outcome, initially hearing of a leg injury that was later understood to be critical. He observed the victim's son crying nearby, initially mistaking his distress for shock, and directed emergency medical services to him.