Israeli Reservist Stabbed Near West Bank Village While Traveling with Family

Elhanan Hanania, an Israeli reservist, was moderately injured in a stabbing attack near the West Bank village of Auja on Sunday morning. Hanania was traveling with his pregnant wife, two daughters, and father-in-law on their way to a family vacation in Tiberias to celebrate his wedding anniversary. The attack occurred when Hanania stopped near a shopping center on Route 90 close to Auja. While outside the vehicle buying cigarettes, a terrorist approached from behind and stabbed him multiple times in the shoulder before fleeing the scene.

Hanania’s family witnessed the attack, with his wife screaming and his father-in-law attempting to intervene. His eldest daughter saw the entire incident. Hanania was taken conscious to Shaare Zedek Medical Center in Jerusalem, where his condition was described as moderate with severe pain, a shoulder fracture, and internal bleeding. His brothers reported he was in significant pain and struggling to speak.

Israeli security forces, including the IDF and police, launched an extensive manhunt for the assailant, conducting searches and roadblocks in the Auja, Jericho, and surrounding areas. The attack was captured on security cameras, showing the assailant stabbing Hanania from behind. The incident was reported to emergency services at 9:18 a.m., and medical teams provided immediate treatment at the scene before hospital transfer.

The police investigation revealed that the suspect was waiting nearby and attacked when Hanania exited his vehicle. Authorities continue to pursue leads and gather intelligence to apprehend the attacker. This stabbing is part of ongoing tensions and violence in the Jordan Valley region.