3 IDF Soldiers Injured in Separate West Bank Attacks, Terrorists Killed

Latest Developments

2 Attacks in a Day: Two IDF soldiers were lightly wounded in a West Bank stabbing attack on December 2. The stabbing occurred when an IDF patrol was dispatched to the Israeli West Bank community of Ateret, near Ramallah, to investigate a suspicious individual who stabbed the soldiers while being questioned. The Palestinian assailant was later identified as 18-year-old Mohammed Asmar from Beit Rima. The attack occurred after a third soldier was injured during a car-ramming attack near Hebron. The suspect was killed by the IDF while trying to evade arrest.
Terrorist Organizations Urge More Violence: Both the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) and Hamas issued statements praising the two attacks. The PFLP said that “the escalation of operations in the West Bank, including the ramming operation in Hebron and the stabbing near Ramallah,” represented a “natural and legitimate response to the occupation’s crimes.” Meanwhile, Hamas called on Palestinians in the West Bank “to strengthen the spirit of steadfastness and escalate resistance in all its forms” while expressing the group’s “rejection of all attempts at Judaization, annexation, and plans to liquidate [its] cause.”
Terror-Linked NGO Raided: The IDF raided the office of the PFLP-linked Union of Agricultural Work Committees (UAWC) in Ramallah on December 2, arresting eight wanted individuals and confiscating materials that incited violence, according to the IDF. The raid also seized more than $200,000 in illicit funds. “The organization, which presents itself as helping in agriculture, actively serves as a wing to the PLFP terror organization and operates to advance incitement to terrorism and funnel funds for terror activities on behalf of the organization,” an IDF statement read.

FDD Expert Response

“Following two attacks in less than 24 hours, Hamas has sought to capitalize on the events by urging West Bank residents to intensify various forms of ‘resistance,’ which is, in fact, a call for acts of terrorism. Combined with the growing operational tempo of terrorist groups across the territory, the West Bank is edging toward a period of heightened instability.” — Joe Truzman, Senior Research Analyst and Editor at FDD’s Long War Journal

“The PFLP roots of the UAWC are deep and well-known. For Palestinian terrorist groups, ‘by any means necessary’ means both violence and furtive means of organizing, such as through seemingly innocuous non-governmental organizations. This is yet another way in which the Palestinians blur the line between civilians and terrorists.” — David May, Research Manager and Senior Research Analyst