Heroic civilian stops shooting attack by neutralizing terrorists in Gush Etzion

Israeli authorities say the attackers—one trained for three months in Qatar—planned their Thursday afternoon assault with chilling precision, stalking the crowded parking lot for 40 minutes before striking.

By Eliana Fleming, JFeed

Earlier today, a deadly combined stabbing and shooting attack at the Rami Levy shopping complex in Gush Etzion claimed the life of 22-year-old Israeli security guard Shalev Zevuloni.

The assailants, two Palestinian Authority police officers, Mahmoud Yosef Aabed, 23, from Halhul, and Maalek Ibrahim Salem, 23, from Tulkarem arrived in a stolen vehicle with yellow license plates and attacked Zevuloni at the supermarket entrance.

Armed with knives, they stabbed him multiple times, seized his handgun, and shot him before attempting to enter the store to target civilians.

A rapid response by the Tekoa settlement’s civilian security chief (Ravshatz) and an IDF soldier neutralized the attackers, preventing further casualties.

The security chief recounted, “By the grace of heaven, I was at the complex and neutralized the vile terrorists, preventing harm to more civilians.”

The IDF released footage of the response, showing security forces securing the scene.

Israeli authorities estimate the attackers, one of whom underwent three months of military training in Qatar, planned the assault for the busy Thursday afternoon, leveraging their familiarity with the area after circling the parking lot for 40 minutes.

In response, the IDF sealed entrances to Hebron and Bethlehem, established checkpoints in Hebron’s city center, and encircled Halhul, where one attacker resided.

The IDF holds the attackers’ bodies, and the Palestinian Authority has heightened its alert status to identify potential rogue elements within its ranks, stating, “We’ve raised our alert level dramatically to check for additional rogue elements and prevent similar copycat attacks.”

The attack, the 19th deadly Palestinian assault in Judea and Samaria in 2025, follows heightened tensions since the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack that killed 1,200 Israelis.

Social media posts on X praised the security chief’s heroism, with one user stating, “The Ravshatz saved countless lives, true courage under fire.”

The incident, amid stalled Gaza ceasefire talks, underscores the volatile security situation and challenges in PA-Israel security coordination, with the PA’s US-funded training programs under scrutiny.