Elhanan Hananya, an IDF career soldier who was moderately wounded on Sunday morning in a terrorist stabbing attack in the Jordan Valley, was en route to a family vacation in Tiberias to celebrate his wedding anniversary. Hananya was traveling with his pregnant wife, their two young daughters, and his father-in-law when he made a brief stop on Route 90 near the Arab village of Al-Auja, where he was ambushed and stabbed by a terrorist who fled the scene.
According to family members, Hananya had taken leave from his military base to celebrate with his family. Speaking from Shaare Zedek Medical Center in Jerusalem, his brothers, Yosef and Shlomo, described his severe condition: “He suffered a fractured shoulder and internal bleeding. Medical teams are working to stabilize him. He is in severe pain and finds it difficult to speak.” Recounting the terrifying moments of the attack, the brothers explained that Elhanan stopped to make a quick purchase. As he returned to the vehicle, the terrorist lay in wait and lunged from behind. “When he saw my brother’s back was turned, he jumped him and stabbed him multiple times,” they recounted. “Elhanan fought him off fiercely. His main panic was protecting his children. His wife was screaming in terror. His father-in-law stepped out of the vehicle, which caused the terrorist to break and flee. His oldest daughter witnessed the entire horrific attack.”
Security camera footage captured the attack, showing the terrorist charging Hananya from behind and stabbing him. Following the attack, Israeli security forces initiated an extensive manhunt, establishing roadblocks and conducting widespread searches across the village of Al-Auja, the city of Jericho, and the broader Jordan Valley sector. An IDF Spokesperson statement confirmed: “Forces are pursuing the terrorist in the village of Al-Auja, the city of Jericho, and throughout the surrounding sector. Security forces are interrogating suspects and conducting intensive intelligence-gathering operations to locate the assailant.”
The initial distress call was received at 09:18 at MDA’s 101 emergency dispatch center. Emergency teams met Hananya near the village and evacuated him to Shaare Zedek Medical Center in Jerusalem fully conscious and in moderate condition. MDA emergency medical technician Gal Shani reported: “We received a report of a man wounded in a stabbing attack. We linked up with the victim, who was fully conscious and suffering from penetrating wounds to his upper body. We administered urgent medical care and transported him in an intensive care mobile unit to the hospital in moderate and stable condition.” An initial investigation by the Israel Police revealed that Hananya pulled over on Route 90 adjacent to a commercial complex. While standing just outside his car, a suspect lurking nearby ambushed him from behind, inflicted stab wounds to his shoulder, and fled. Israel Police, the IDF, and security agencies continue operations across Judea and Samaria to apprehend the perpetrator.