2017 Yavne attack
On 2 August 2017, a 19-year old Palestinian teen critically injured an Israeli civilian with a knife at a local supermarket in the city of Yavne, located in the Central District of Israel. The attacker was subsequently arrested after being captured by civilians who were at the spot. Police confirmed the attack was an act of terrorism.[1]
2017 Yavneh attack | |
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Part of Israeli–Palestinian conflict | |
Location | Yavne, Israel |
Coordinates | 31°53′N 34°44′E |
Date | 2 August 2017 (UTC+3) |
Target | Civilians |
Attack type | Stabbing |
Weapon | Knife |
Deaths | 0 |
Injured | 1 (critically injured) |
Perpetrator | 1 Palestinian |
External video | |
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Footage of apparent terror stabbing in Yavneh released, August 2, 2017. (Warning: graphic footage) |
The assailant was later identified as Ismail Abu Aram, resident of Yatta, Hebron, located in the West Bank.
Attack
Shortly before noon, a knife-wielding man entered a Shufersal supermarket in Yavneh, Israel. Then, he approached an employee at the market, Niv Nehemiah, waiting for him to turn around, and then stabbed him fifteen times[2] in his head and the neck as Nehemiah fought off the attacker; the incident was captured on the store's security cameras.[3][4][2][5] Despite being gravely injured, Nehemiah fought off the assailant, tried to run away, and then blocked the assailant with a shopping cart,[1] events shown on security camera footage released by authorities later.[6][2][7] The assailant then fled the supermarket and was captured outside by civilians who held him subdued to the ground,[8] one of the civilians pulled out a gun, however, he was told by other civilians "Don't go overboard".[1] The capture of the assailant outside of the supermarket was also recorded on a cellphone video.[9][1]
Prior to attacking the employee, the assailant reportedly asked a shopper if he worked at the supermarket; however he didn't attack.[10] Some 15 minutes before the attack, the assailant asked the victim on the whereabouts of the bathroom in the compound.[11] The original target was the attacker's former employer, using a knife he would steal and a can of pepper spray he brought with him,[12] however due to availability he decided to kill a different Israeli.[13]
Victim
Nehemiah (42),[14] the deputy manager at the supermarket, where the attack occurred,[15] was severely wounded and taken to Kaplan Medical Center in Rehovot.[16] He was unconscious and in critical condition for 4 days,[17] and underwent a series of surgical operations,[2][15] In addition he was hooked up to a respirator while being held in the intensive care unit.[18] On 12 August, Nehemiah was visited by Benjamin Netanyahu[19] On 21 August, Nehemiah, unable to speak due to damage to his vocal cords, gave a written statement to the media stating that he remembers the entire attack.[20] On 27 August, he was released from the hospital.[21]
President Reuven Rivlin phoned the victim's wife, hailing the victim as a hero and assuring her that the entire country is praying for her husband.[22] Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised the victim for fighting valiantly against the assailant,[23] and subsequently visited the stabbing victim, who was critically injured from stabs to the neck and torso and was unconsciousness for a few days,[24][25] on 8 August 2017, six days after the attack.[26]
Perpetrator
The assailant, Ismail Abu Aram,[27] 19-years old Palestinian teen from Yatta, Hebron,[28] without a prior security offence background.[28] According to the Shin Bet, Aby Aram did not have a permit to enter Israel,[29] and Netanyahu later visited the spot where he crossed the Green Line.[30] Following the attack Abu Aram attempted to flee the scene,[31] but ultimately was detained by Israeli authorities.[32] He was indicted on 28 August 2017, the indictment stated that the assailant traveled to Saudi Arabia in order to perform an Umrah, as part of a strengthening of his Islamic belief, and that he set out to attack a Jew in order to fulfill the Islamic commandment of Jihad.[33] During his 12-day visit for Ramadan to Mecca, he decided to "fulfill his duty to jihad", to "kill a Jew"[34] and to carry out "the commandment of jihad against the Jewish Israeli occupation."[35][36]
Under Israeli criminal law, attempted murder can be charged as murder, which the victims family has requested.[37]
Aftermath
Israel Defense Forces (IDF) forces raided the home of the assailant in the city of Yatta, and arrested his father. Clashes developed between IDF forces and the residents of the city during the raid.[28] Yatta is known as the hometown of many assailants, including the perpetrators of the June 2016 Tel Aviv shooting.[38] The city of Yatta was then cordoned off by the IDF, blocking all entrances and exits to the city.[39]
See also
References
- Gross, Judah Ari (2 August 2017). "Man critically hurt in terror stabbing in Yavneh". Retrieved 12 August 2017.
- "Terror victim speaks: I remember everything". Israel National News. Retrieved 28 August 2017.
- "Police: Palestinian stabs Israeli in supermarket attack". AP NEWS. 2 August 2017. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
- Senyor, Eli; Rimmerman, Reut (2 August 2017). "Employee stabbed in terror attack at Yavne supermarket". Ynetnews. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
- Kershner, Isabel (2 August 2017). "His Health Crisis Made Public, Palestinian Envoy Pushes On". New York Times. Archived from the original on 29 August 2017. Retrieved 28 August 2017.
- "Footage Released of Palestinian Stabbing Attack That Left Israeli Man Critically Injured". The Tower Magazine. 2 August 2017. Retrieved 15 August 2017.
- "Netanyahu to Build New Settlements". Arab Times. 3 August 2017.
- Cusack, Robert. "Young Palestinian stabs Israeli supermarket worker stacking toilet rolls". alaraby. Retrieved 29 August 2017.
- Roberts, Chana (2 August 2017). "WATCH: Capturing the Yavneh terrorist". Israel National News. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
- Tucker, Benny (4 August 2017). "אברך הגומל, קיבלתי את חיי במתנה". ערוץ 7 (in Hebrew). Retrieved 21 April 2023.
- Ravid, Or (21 August 2017). "הפצוע מיבנה משחזר לראשונה: "המחבל שוחח איתי לפני הפיגוע" - וואלה! חדשות". וואלה! (in Hebrew). Retrieved 21 April 2023.
- Wootliff, Raoul (28 August 2017). "Radicalized Yavneh stabber meticulously planned every aspect of attack – indictment". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 28 August 2017.
- Noy, Becca. "Yavne victim's family considers terrorist murderer". JerusalemOnline. Archived from the original on 28 August 2017. Retrieved 28 August 2017.
- "Israelis Arrest Palestinian Woman over Alleged Stabbing Attack". Tasnim News Agency (Iran). 13 August 2017. Retrieved 23 August 2017.
- Wootliff, Raoul (27 August 2017). "Yavneh stabber to be indicted, as his victim released from hospital". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 28 August 2017.
- "Netanyahu visits Yavneh stabbing victim, calls him a 'hero'". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 28 August 2017.
- "Israeli man seriously wounded in supermarket attack regains consciousness". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. Retrieved 28 August 2017.
- "Israele, palestinese accoltella alle spalle commesso di un supermercato". Retrieved 29 August 2017.
- Mualem, Mazal (14 August 2017). "Netanyahu pushes law making it easier to declare war". Al-Monitor. Retrieved 28 August 2017.
- "Yavne Supermarket Stabbing Victim Recalls Attack, Says Terrorist Asked Him Where Bathroom Was 15 Minutes Prior". Algemeiner.com. Retrieved 28 August 2017.
- Rosenberg, David (28 August 2017). "'Supermarket Jihadi' indicted for attempted murder". Israel National News. Retrieved 28 August 2017.
- "President calls wife of Yavneh stabbing victim, hails him as 'hero'". Times of Israel. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
- Azulay, Moran; Senyor, Eli (4 August 2017). "Netanyahu calls former Chief of staff's witness deal 'background noise'". Ynetnews. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
- "Condition of Israeli Man Critically Wounded in Yavne Stabbing Attack Stabilizes, Family Asks Public for Continued Prayers". Algemeiner. 4 August 2017. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
- "Yavneh stabbing victim regains consciousness". Times of Israel. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
- Keinon, Herb (9 August 2017). "Netanyahu: It's impossible to hermetically seal border". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
- Wootliff, Raoul (27 August 2017). "Yavneh stabber to be indicted, as his victim released from hospital". Times of Israel. Retrieved 28 August 2017.
- Following the arrest of the father of the terrorist: Palestinians are assailing the IDF in Yatta, NRG, 2 August 2017
- "One in critical condition after terror attack in supermarket". BICOM. Retrieved 29 August 2017.
- "Netanyahu Visits Recovering Victim of Supermarket Stabbing". Retrieved 29 August 2017.
- "Latest Israel News - 3rd August - Zionist Federation of Australia". Zionist Federation of Australia. 3 August 2017. Archived from the original on 5 August 2017. Retrieved 29 August 2017.
- "Palestinian teen detained after stabbing Israeli man in central Israel". Maan News Agency. Archived from the original on 2 August 2017. Retrieved 29 August 2017.
- Morag, Gilad (28 August 2017). "התחזק בסעודיה וניסה לרצוח בישראל: כתב אישום נגד המחבל ביבנה". Ynet (in Hebrew). Retrieved 21 April 2023.
- "Yavneh Terrorist Planned Attack During Pilgrimage to Mecca". The Jewish Press. Retrieved 28 August 2017.
- "Relatives of Halamish terrorist face prison time as accomplices". Israel Hayom. 28 August 2017. Archived from the original on 21 April 2023. Retrieved 28 August 2017.
- Hovel, Revital (28 August 2017). "Palestinian Teen Charged With Attempted Murder in Supermarket Attack". Haaretz. Retrieved 28 August 2017.
- Noy, Becca. "Yavne victim's family considers terrorist murderer". JerusalemOnline. Archived from the original on 28 August 2017. Retrieved 28 August 2017.
- Senior, Eli; Blumenthal, Itai; Zeyton, Yoav; Levy, Elior (2 August 2017). "תיעוד מהסופרמרקט ביבנה: חיכה שהעובד יסתובב, ודקר אותו בגב". Ynet (in Hebrew). Retrieved 21 April 2023.
- Cohen, Gili; Ben Zikri, Almog (2 August 2017). "Israeli Army Cordons Off West Bank Village After Supermarket Attack". Haaretz. Retrieved 21 April 2023.