A stabbing attack was carried out at Gush Etzion Junction, a flashpoint that has seen many terror attacks in recent months, shortly after noon on Wednesday, February 24.

A Palestinian terrorist arrived at the junction from the south and attempted to stab 30-year-old Eliav Gelman. According to an army spokesperson, IDF forces shot and neutralized the terrorist, also hitting the Israeli victim by mistake.

Gelman was critically wounded in his upper body and received treatment at the scene before he was transported in an intensive care ambulance to Shaare Zedek hospital in Jerusalem. He arrived at the hospital in unconscious and in critical condition and is receiving resuscitation. His family has requested the public to pray for him.

The terrorist, identified as 26-year-old Mamdouh Amru from the village of Dura, was shot and moderately wounded. He was transported to Shaare Zedek hospital as well to receive treatment.

Deputy Minister of Defense Eli Ben Dahan told Tazpit Press Service (TPS) that he had passed through the junction just half an hour before the attack occurred. “This wave of terror attacks requires acts of deterrence. I repeat my stance that the best deterrence for this sort of terror is deportation of the terrorists’ families,” he said.

“I have no doubt that if we deport a terrorist’s family to Gaza or any other place around the world, there will be no more attacks,” added Ben Dahan to TPS.
UPDATE: Eliav Gelman, 30, succumbed to his gunshot wounds two hours after the attack. He was an Air Force captain in the IDF reserves and a father of two.