Two 17-year-old Palestinian terrorists, armed with a knife and with wooden clubs, carried out a terror attack inside an Israeli community that could have ended much worse.

The two terrorists infiltrated the community of Eli in the Binyamin region at about 5:30 a.m. on Wednesday morning, March 2. They attacked and wounded Roi Harel, a father of five in his thirties, at the entrance to his home.

Harel was able, however, to fend them off and close the door. He suffered light wounds to his head and was transported to Shaare Zedek hospital in Jerusalem to receive treatment.

“I was about to leave the house for reserve military service, but two Arabs full of hate were waiting outside my door,” said the victim after the attack. “The moment I opened the door, they broke inside and attacked me with heavy wooden clubs. They almost got to the childrens’ bedrooms, but fortunately I managed to push them outside and lock the door.”

Residents of the community told Tazpit Press Service (TPS) that the family “survived what could have been a tragedy. We witnessed a great miracle today, when the husband’s wit saved his wife and five children.”

They also told TPS that a group of local children normally go out of their homes on their way to synagogue at the hour of the attack. “Fortunately, they were all delayed this morning and a horrible tragedy was avoided,” they said.

The two terrorists fled while smashing car windows on their way, and attempted to hide in a building that houses the local mikveh (Jewish ritual bath). Local security forces along with IDF forces pursued them, and shot them dead when the terrorists came out of hiding and attempted to attack them.

The attackers were identified by Palestinian sources as Labib Anwar Khaldoun and Mohamed Hisham Ali from the village of Qaryout near Nablus, who had been missing from their homes since 9:00 p.m. on the previous evening.

Trackers located a pistol in the terrorists’ escape route. The pistol, which appeared to be improvised, was wrapped in plastic and ready for use.