In this latest attack, the lone terrorist, identified as 19-year-old Omar al-Abed arrived from a nearby village on foot, walking 2.5 kilometers and then entering the community and passing a number of homes until he entered the home near the outer perimeter of the community. There was no hesitation, as the note he left for his family members stated he expressed sorrow that he will not see them ago, on his way to “Gan Edan”.

He he began stabbing and slashing anyone who crossed his path. After he was captured, he told officials he bought the knife two days earlier for the purpose of attacking Jews because of the situation on Har Habayis, the IDF spokesman reports. He was carrying a bottle of water, a Koran, and a wallet. It took fourteen minutes from the time he entered the community until he was shot.

There was a Shalom Zachor taking place in the home when the attack began at about 9:30PM Friday night. Other family members who realized the horror that was taking place hid in an upstairs bedroom B”H, saving a number of lives.

Names of the Victims HYD

Murdered in the Friday night attack in N’vei Tzuf were Yosef Solomon HY”D (70), Chaya Solomon HY”D (46) and Elad Solomon HY”D (36), a father of five who lives in Elad. The grandmother, 68, was wounded in the attack.

Information from Preliminary Probe into the Attack 

The warning from the security fence did not stop the terrorist. The family struggled and shouted, the probe into the murderous attack in which a grandfather and his two children were murdered during the Shalom Zachor of a grandson. The terrorist jumped over the fence and triggered the warning fence.

The probe will try to determine why the security forces failed to apprehend him. After 100-150 meters, he arrived at the house, entered the open door and began stabbing anyone and everyone. The grandmother who was wounded was operated on this morning and received the bitter news. On the morning after the attack in Chalamish, in which three members of the family were murdered in their home, new details of the operational debriefing are revealed.

The terrorist triggered the warning in the perimeter fence of the settlement when he crossed it and climbed over it, and is now examining why the security forces failed to arrest him before entering the family’s home.

Magen David Adom EMT Ehud Amitan explains “The scene was a difficult one. When we entered the home we immediately saw four victims on the ground with stab wounds. Three of them were in cardiac arrest. We began advanced resuscitation including pharmaceutical intervention accompanied by efforts to stop their bleeding. Another victim, about 60, was conscious and sustained stab wounds in her upper body. She was transported in a paramedic unit to Shaare Zedek Hospital in moderate-to-serious condition.

United Hatzalah EMT Doron Matov, a resident of the community, explained on motzei Shabbos, “When we were concluding the Shabbos meal a call came in for persons badly wounded in a home in the community and I immediately left for the place and ran into a difficult scene. I assisted in resuscitating the daughter, but unfortunately her death was determined at the end of the resuscitation efforts, and we also provided initial medical care with the help of additional volunteers from the United Hatzalah motorcycle unit to the moderately wounded grandmother, the result of stab wounds”.

President Rivlin Responds on Motzei Shabbos

“At this difficult time, our hearts go out to the bereaved family in Chalamish (N’vei Tzuf), and to all the community there, after the incomprehensible loss they have endured last night.

“The difficult pictures, and the thoughts of the children who fled for shelter now dealing with the terrible news – it is truly heartbreaking.

“We embrace the members of the family into our hearts, and are inspired by the courage and composure of a mother who stood alone in the face of such horror, and by the IDF soldier who brought an end to the terrible campaign of murder.

“I pray for the recovery of the wounded, and wish to express my support for the IDF, and all the security forces, who are working for our safety at every moment, and especially in these last few days. I know that we will show no tolerance for those who plot against us, and we will fight terrorism, mercilessly and without compromise.

“This is the time for the whole free world to denounce terror and incitement, and join with the State of Israel in the war against terror and incitement. One who does not denounce terror is a partner to it, and has a hand in the deterioration of the whole region into a needless, bloody war, which no one wants.”

PM Netanyahu Responds

“Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu expresses deep sorrow over last night’s murder of three family members in the community of Chalamish. This was an act of terrorism committed by a beast incited by wild hatred.

“The security forces are doing their utmost to maintain security and, to this end, will take all necessary measures.

N’vei Tzuf Residents Speak Out

The residents of N’vei Tzuf released the following statement following last massacre:

“Last night a celebration of life was turned into a blood bath when a terrorist took the lives of Yosef Salomon, 70, and his children Haya, 46, and Elad, 36 three innocent people sitting at their dining table. The Salomon family were celebrating the birth of a new grandson with friends and family when the terrorist entered their home.

This is not the first time that our community has been struck by terror. Our resolve remains strong and we will continue to build a better life for our children, here in our ancestral homeland. We have always reached out to our neighbors in peace but the incitement and murder continues. We call upon the government of Israel to return security to our community and all of Israel immediately. This was never about metal detectors; the incitement and murder must be brought to a rapid end.”

The funerals will take place tomorrow, details will be released when available.

Justice Minister Shaked Responds 

Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked said, “Less than 24 hours after his grandson was born, the new and emotional grandfather was murdered along with two of his children, a murder that interrupted the wonderful joy and celebration of life.

“There are no words to describe the despicable act and atrocity that took place yesterday in Chalamish, the slaughter of a family by a hateful animal.

“The terrible and terrible murder in Chalamish did not take place because of a magnetometer and they should not state otherwise.

“I do not remember metal detectors on Har Habayis when the Fogel family from Itamar was slaughtered. It was the result of unbridled incitement that was not stopped by leaders. In the wake of hatred taught in schools and homes. My heart goes out to the mourners in Chalamish and they should not know any more sorrow. Sad and painful in your loss”.

DM Lieberman & IDF Chief on the Scene of the Attack

Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman and IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-General Gadi Eizenkott arrived at the scene of the attack and briefed by senior IDF commanders.

PA Arrested Terrorist Three Month Ago 

According to a Times of Israel report, an uncle of the terrorist who butchered people in N’vei Tzuf (Chalamish) during the Shalom Zachor was in PA (Palestinian Authority) custody three months ago. Omar al-Abed was arrested and detained and interrogated for two weeks on suspicion of planning to perpetrate a terror attack and then released.

The Neighbor & Soldier Acted Professionally & Neutralized the Terrorist In the accompanying video, an IDF soldier from the Oketz Unit who responded, explains the events. He too is a community resident and was on leave for Shabbos. He heard the shouts and screams from the nearby home. He ran to the home and fired at the terrorist via a window, striking him in the abdomen, neutralizing him. “I acted calmly and professionally” he explains.

Three years earlier, terrorists entered his home and tried to stab his younger sister “and miraculously, that ended as it did” he told the press.

Levaya information
The levayas for the victims of the Friday night terror attack; Yosef, Chaya and Elad Solomon HY”D, will take place on Sunday 29 Tammuz at 5:30PM in the Modi’in Cemetery. The family will sit shiva in the son’s home HY”D at 22 Rashi Street in Elad.

Times for nichum aveilim are:
** 8:00AM to 1:00PM and 4:00PM to 10:00PM
** Please refrain from coming between 1:00PM to 4:00PM