An Israeli man from Beitar Illit was stabbed Tuesday afternoon at the entrance to a convenience story (makolet) on Walleja road, according to Magen David Adom (MDA) emergency medical response service spokesperson Zaki Heller.
The store is located in Gush Etzion, at the edge of the Arab town of Beit Jala south of Jerusalem, near Har Gilo.
The attack took place at the small grocery store (makolet) on Walleja Road, between the Gush Etzion tunnel road and Har Gilo. Walleja Road was closed temporarily by security personnel.
The attacker appeared to have escaped and remains at large.
MDA paramedics provided treatment at the scene in cooperation with medics from the IDF Medical Corps and then evacuated the victim, a man in his thirties, to Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital in Jerusalem, with multiple stab wounds to his face. He is conscious and listed as lightly wounded according to the hospital.
IDF forces were deployed to search for the stabber.
Israeli Border Guard Police said in a statement that the motive for the stabbing is not yet clear.
“We must wait for the preliminary findings of the Israel Police and IDF investigations before deciding that this is a terrorist incident.”
Walleja is a popular alternate road when the tunnel roads between Jerusalem and Gush Etzion are packed.
Update: 10:37 PM: The stabber, age 20, from Daheishe, turned himself in to the Border Police.