Israeli Reservist Stabbed Near Auja; Attacker Flees Amid Family Witnesses

Elhanan Hanania, an Israeli reservist, was moderately injured in a stabbing attack near the village of Auja in the Jordan Valley on the morning of his wedding anniversary. Hanania was traveling with his pregnant wife, two daughters, and father-in-law on their way to a family vacation in Tiberias when the attack occurred. The family had stopped near a shopping center by Auja, where Hanania exited the vehicle to buy cigarettes. At that moment, a terrorist approached from behind and stabbed him in the shoulder before fleeing the scene.

Hanania's brothers, Yosef and Shlomo, who spoke from Shaare Zedek Medical Center where he is hospitalized, described the attack as sudden and violent, with Hanania struggling to defend himself while concerned for his children inside the car. The eldest daughter witnessed the entire incident. During the attack, Hanania's pregnant wife screamed, and his father-in-law exited the vehicle, prompting the assailant to escape.

Security forces launched an extensive manhunt in the Auja, Jericho, and surrounding areas. The Israel Defense Forces reported ongoing operations including roadblocks, suspect interrogations, and intelligence gathering to locate the attacker. The incident was captured on surveillance footage showing the assailant approaching and stabbing Hanania before fleeing.

Magen David Adom emergency teams arrived promptly, treating Hanania at the scene before evacuating him to Shaare Zedek Hospital in Jerusalem. His condition is described as moderate, with injuries including a shoulder fracture and internal bleeding. Police continue to search for the suspect, who attacked Hanania while he was outside his vehicle on Route 90 near the shopping center.