Alert Resident Prevents Major Attack: Two Soldiers Wounded in Ateret Terror Stabbing

Two IDF soldiers were wounded on Tuesday, December 2, when a terrorist attempted to carry out a stabbing attack near the community of Ateret in Samaria’s Binyamin region. The attacker was shot and killed by Israeli forces after pulling a knife and beginning to stab soldiers who had been sent to intercept him. The incident highlights the continued danger faced by communities and soldiers in Judea and Samaria, where attacks can unfold quickly and often hinge on minutes and decisions made under pressure.

The events began when a resident noticed a suspicious individual walking along the road carrying a bag. Instead of dismissing what he saw, the resident immediately alerted security authorities. That phone call triggered a rapid, coordinated response that included tracking and engagement—actions that were later credited with preventing a potentially larger assault. In situations like this, the difference between tragedy and a contained incident can come down to whether citizens and local security systems act decisively at the earliest warning signs.

A preliminary IDF assessment described how the regional defense system detected the suspicious person and how troops from the Paratroopers Brigade were dispatched off Route 465 near the Ateret Spring. During the initial inspection of the suspect, he suddenly drew a knife and began stabbing. Only then did the soldiers respond with gunfire, ending the attack. Magen David Adom teams treated the two soldiers at the scene, and their injuries were described as light. The emphasis in the initial description is that lethal force was used only after the attacker initiated the knife assault.

(i365/VFI News)

“Father, we lift up the wounded soldiers and ask You to bring swift healing to their bodies and peace to their hearts. Strengthen every community watch, every hotline, every situation room, and every soldier standing guard—grant discernment and courage in every moment. Please thwart the plans of terror, protect families in Judea and Samaria, and establish Your peace over the land of Israel, in Yeshua’s Name.”