A 51-year-old founder of the agricultural farm movement in Judea and Samaria was seriously wounded in a stabbing attack Thursday afternoon near Derech Avraham Farm. Magen David Adom medics treated him at the scene before he was airlifted by helicopter to a hospital in serious condition.
According to the IDF, Israeli civilians were attempting to extinguish a fire near the farm when two attackers stabbed the man. An armed Israeli civilian at the scene opened fire and killed both attackers. Clashes subsequently broke out between IDF forces and Palestinians in the area.
Israel Police said the victim was stabbed multiple times in his upper body while helping to extinguish what is believed to have been an intentionally set fire. The emergency call was received at 12:17 p.m.
MDA emergency medic Israel Arbus said: "While securing the firefighting operation, civilians shouted that a man had been stabbed. We immediately ran to him and found him suffering from multiple stab wounds. We provided lifesaving treatment, including controlling severe bleeding, and together with IDF medical teams evacuated him to the hospital in serious condition."
The IDF imposed a cordon around the nearby Palestinian village of Beit Furik. Fire investigators and police have launched investigations into the cause of the fire and the attack.
Samaria Regional Council Chairman Yossi Dagan described the incident as "a severe act of terrorism" And said: "We are repeatedly witnessing arson attacks and attempted terrorist attacks. There is a clear effort by the Palestinian Authority and terrorist organizations to incite violence and carry out attacks. The citizens of Israel expect the government to respond with an iron fist. The settlement movement in Samaria is strong, and we will prevail."
The Association of Agricultural Farms said the fire was deliberately set on the morning of Tisha B'Av and called for a zero-tolerance policy toward arson and violence in the area to better protect farmers and volunteers.