Israeli Reservist Stabbed Near Jordan Valley While Heading to Wedding Anniversary Celebration

Elhanan Hanania, an Israeli reservist, was moderately injured in a stabbing attack near the village of Auja in the Jordan Valley on Sunday morning. Hanania was traveling with his pregnant wife, their two daughters, and his father-in-law to celebrate his wedding anniversary with a vacation in Tiberias. The family stopped to buy cigarettes near Auja when a Palestinian assailant suddenly attacked and stabbed Hanania multiple times in the upper body.

Hanania's two brothers, Yosef and Shlomo, recounted at Shaare Zedek Medical Center in Jerusalem that he had taken leave from his military base for the trip. They described how the attacker ambushed Hanania from behind as he returned to the car, stabbing him several times while Hanania struggled to defend himself. The attacker fled after Hanania's father-in-law intervened. Hanania's eldest daughter witnessed the entire incident, and his wife screamed during the attack.

The stabbing was captured on security camera footage showing the assailant's sudden assault. Israeli Defense Forces reported that manhunts and roadblocks were established in the Auja area, Jericho, and surrounding regions. Security forces are interrogating suspects and gathering intelligence to locate the attacker.

Magen David Adom received the emergency call at 09:18 and provided medical treatment on-site before evacuating Hanania to the hospital. Paramedic Gal Shani stated Hanania was conscious but suffering from internal bleeding and a shoulder fracture. Police confirmed the attacker stabbed Hanania in the shoulder after he exited his vehicle near a shopping center on Route 90 and then fled the scene. The search for the suspect continues.