Man arrested for stabbing Israelis in Hizma in suspected terror attack

In two separate incidents, on Wednesday evening and Thursday morning, two Israeli citizens were stabbed while visiting the town of Hizma northeast of Jerusalem for commercial purposes.

IDF forces in the town of Hizma after two stabbing attacks occurred in less than a day, on March 3, 2022. (photo credit: IDF SPOKESPERSON UNIT)
IDF forces in the town of Hizma after two stabbing attacks occurred in less than a day, on March 3, 2022.
(photo credit: IDF SPOKESPERSON UNIT)

Israeli law enforcement arrested on Thursday a suspect in the stabbing incidents that took place in the Palestinian village of Hizma near Jerusalem the day before.

The suspect, a man in his 20s, was arrested by undercover operatives and Border Police officers in cooperation with the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) and the IDF.

He is currently being taken in for questioning.

On Wednesday, a person around the age of 40 was stabbed in Hizma northeast of Jerusalem, less than 24 hours after a 48-year-old resident of Jerusalem was stabbed in a store in the same town, MDA reported.

The man had entered the town to take his car to a mechanic. He was stabbed in the neck but arrived independently at the Hizma crossing, from which he was evacuated to Jerusalem's Shaare Zedek Medical Center in moderate condition.

THE HIZMA checkpoint on the outskirts of Jerusalem. (credit: AMMAR AWAD / REUTERS)
THE HIZMA checkpoint on the outskirts of Jerusalem. (credit: AMMAR AWAD / REUTERS)

The incident is suspected of being a terror attack, the IDF Spokesperson's Unit said on Thursday afternoon.

An investigation is underway as to whether the stabbing was related to Wednesday's stabbing incident which had similar characteristics and was also probably a terror attack, the IDF said.