Israeli Military Charges 16-Year-Old Palestinian for Attempted Stabbing Near West Bank Settlement

A 16-year-old Palestinian from the village of Nahalin was indicted by the Israeli military prosecution for attempting a stabbing attack near the West Bank settlement of Neve Daniel in the Gush Etzion bloc. According to the indictment filed on Monday, the teenager left his home armed with a knife on July 11, setting his phone to airplane mode to avoid detection by family members. He told his mother he was going to a math tutoring session before embarking on a several-hour trek through hills and agricultural land toward Neve Daniel with the intent to stab and kill a resident or soldier.

Upon reaching the settlement's gate, the suspect grew apprehensive, retreated from the fence, and rested on a nearby bench. After becoming tired and thirsty, he abandoned his plan, hid the knife under the bench, and later entered the settlement searching for water. A local resident spotted him and detained him along with an Israeli military force on suspicion of unauthorized entry. The suspect confessed during interrogation and revealed where he hid the knife.

The military prosecution charged him with attempted premeditated murder, possession of a knife, and violating a closed area order. The suspect was arrested about two weeks ago after being stopped by the settlement's security officer and transferred to the Etzion police station for investigation. The case highlights ongoing security concerns in the West Bank amid tensions between Israeli settlers and Palestinians.