Human Rights Voices

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Palestinian Authority/Gaza, February 7, 2018

Israeli guard wounded in stabbing attack south of Jerusalem

Original source

Times of Israel

An Israeli security guard was lightly wounded early Wednesday morning when a Palestinian assailant attacked him with a knife at the entrance to a West Bank settlement, officials said.

The terrorist opened the door to the guard post at the entrance to Karmei Tzur, in Gush Etzion, and stabbed one of the guards in the palm of his hand.

A second guard shot the assailant and killed him, according to the Israel Defense Forces.

He was later identified by Palestinian officials as Hamzeh Yousef Zamaareh, 19, from the town of Halhul, near Hebron.

The wounded guard, a 34-year-old man, was treated at the scene by Magen David Adom medics and taken to Jerusalem's Hadassah Hospital Ein Kerem while fully conscious.

Dr. Ram Moshayov, head of the hospital's orthopedic trauma center, said the guard was undergoing testing in order to determine if he would retain full function of his hand.

"The terrorist stabbed him in the palm of the hand. Other than that, he's perfectly healthy," Moshayov said. "I'm optimistic about his hand. His nerves are functioning, but we're still in the process of checking it out."

Officials said the terrorist arrived at the scene with a car. Security forces were scanning the area.

On Monday a terrorist fatally stabbed 29-year-old Rabbi Itamar Ben-Gal outside the settlement of Ariel.

Footage from Monday's attack scene showed the suspect, 19-year-old Abed al-Karim Assi, crossing a road toward Ben-Gal, who was standing in front of a bus stop, and stabbing him. Ben-Gal then fled across the street with the stabber in pursuit.

Medics tried to resuscitate Ben-Gal, who was stabbed three times in the chest. He was taken to Beilinson Hospital in Petah Tikvah, but succumbed to his wounds. He was laid to rest in a cemetery in the Har Bracha settlement, where he lived with his family. He is survived by his wife and four children.

Israeli forces are still hunting for the killer.