Israeli man murdered in terror attack near Jerusalem

Two terrorists attacked a supermarket south of Jerusalem in a combination shooting, stabbing attack, leaving one man fatally wounded.

By David Rosenberg, World Israel News

An Israeli man in his 20s was killed Thursday afternoon in a Palestinian terror attack on a supermarket south of Jerusalem.

The attack took place in a parking lot at a branch of the Rami Levy supermarket chain at the Gush Etzion Junction. Two terrorists armed with knives stabbed a security guard repeatedly, fatally wounding him.

After stabbing the guard, the terrorists stole his firearm.

Armed Israeli civilians and security personnel responded by opening fire on the two terrorists, leading to a brief gun battle.

Both terrorists were shot and killed during the attack.

A large number of security personnel from the IDF and Judea and Samaria District police were deployed to the area in response to the attack.

“A report was received about a security incident at the Gush Etzion Junction. IDF forces rushed to the scene; the details are under investigation,” an IDF spokesperson said.

Emergency first responders from Magen David Adom and United Hatzalah were dispatched to the scene to treat the victim.

The search and rescue organization ZAKA confirmed that the wounded victim had died at the scene and that both terrorists were fatally wounded.

“After medical examinations, MDA paramedics and first responders declared the death of a young man roughly 20 years of age,” Magen David Adom said.

“We arrived at the scene of a security incident at the Gush Etzion junction,” said Tzvi Barkai, head of United Hatzalah’s Gush Etzion branch, and EMT Ashriel Glaser.

“Unfortunately, the death of a young adult, approximately 20 years old, has been confirmed due to the severe nature of the injuries sustained. Additionally, United Hatzalah psychotrauma teams are operating at the scene due to the nature of the incident.”

The Yesha Council, which represents Israeli towns in Judea and Samaria, accused the government of failing to properly respond to Arab terror in the region since October 7, 2023.

“Judea and Samaria is the only front among all theaters of conflict where a strategic shift has yet to occur since October 7th,” the council said in a statement Thursday afternoon.

“The difficult security reality is the result of a failed policy that began with the Oslo Accords, and the time has come to change direction,” the statement continued.

“The government of Israel must end its policy of isolated responses and decisively defeat Arab terrorism by applying Israeli sovereignty throughout Judea and Samaria alongside broad-scale military operations.”