A violent attack occurred this morning (Sunday) in eastern Gush Etzion when a shepherd from Givat Mekane Avraham was assaulted while grazing his flock. The shepherd reported that about ten Arabs from the village of Rashiida, armed with clubs and stones, began surrounding him.
1+Residents who arrived at the scene found the shepherd lying on the ground with the attackers standing over him. During the rescue attempt, the assailants began hurling stones at the residents to prevent them from reaching the wounded man. After a struggle, the residents managed to extract the shepherd from the area, and the Arab terrorists fled back to the village.
During his rescue by Magen David Adom, Israel’s emergency medical service, the shepherd regained consciousness. In total, three wounded people suffering from injuries were taken for medical treatment—the shepherd and two teens who were hurt—to Shaare Zedek Medical Center.
1+Residents of the community noted this is a recurring incident, as the same shepherd was seriously wounded in the head in a similar attack about a year ago. At that time, two suspects were arrested but released after just a few days.
Police Response
IDF and police forces were called to the scene and began collecting evidence and searching for the suspects. A police spokesperson said the incident involved “violent friction and stone-throwing that led to the injury of three Israeli shepherds.” The statement added that police view cases of violence and causing harm with severity, and that forces are operating in the area to locate the suspects, investigate them, and bring them to justice.