Israeli Seriously Wounded in Stabbing Attack at Samaria Farm

JERUSALEM (VINnews) — An Israeli man was seriously wounded Monday morning in a stabbing attack at the Ma’oz Yehuda Farm, near the village of Otzarin in Samaria, according to initial reports.

The attacker arrived at the farm by car and spoke with one of the residents. After the conversation, he attacked the man with a knife, stabbing him repeatedly. According to the initial account, the knife broke during the assault.

The victim sustained multiple stab wounds, including injuries to his upper body and hand, and was reported to be in serious condition. He was treated at the scene by an emergency medical responder before being evacuated for further medical care. The attacker fled the scene in his vehicle. IDF troops were dispatched to the area and began searching for the assailant.

The IDF Spokesperson’s Unit said: “A report was received of an attempted stabbing attack in the area of the village of Awarta, in the Samaria Brigade. The details are under investigation. IDF forces were dispatched to the scene.”

Aviel Memalia, Samaria medical coordinator, and Neria Giat, volunteer first responders with Hatzalah Judea and Samaria MDA, who arrived at the scene, said:

“We were taken to the farm, where we found a 19-year-old man conscious and suffering from stab wounds to the head, neck and limbs. Working together with an IDF medical team and additional medics and paramedics who arrived at the scene, we provided him with initial medical treatment, including controlling bleeding, bandaging and immobilization.

“He was evacuated under intensive military medical care in serious condition to the trauma unit at Rabin Medical Center’s Beilinson Hospital.”

The stabbing comes against the backdrop of a period of heightened security tensions across Samaria and Binyamin. Israeli forces have significantly increased their presence in the area following a series of terrorist attacks and other violent incidents in recent months. The IDF said last month that the Samaria Brigade had carried out 467 more offensive operations in July than in the previous month, reflecting the increased level of activity in the area. The military has also conducted extensive arrests and intelligence operations following recent attacks.

The broader security situation has prompted the IDF Central Command to reinforce forces throughout the region. Recent reporting indicated that 24 battalions, including 10 reserve battalions, were deployed across the area, as the military sought to contain a series of attacks and prevent further escalation.

The Ma’oz Yehuda incident also comes only weeks after a particularly deadly attack near the  village of Tell in Samaria . In that July 24 incident, two Israeli security personnel, Maj. Yuval Ezra and Capt. (res.) Benyahu Malt, were killed while confronting Palestinian attackers who had opened fire on Israeli civilians. A subsequent IDF investigation found significant operational failures but also credited the two men with acting to protect civilians and prevent a larger loss of life.

IDF sources later updated that they had located the attacker, who tried to stab a soldier and was eliminated.