Palestinian Teen Stabs Israeli Soldier Near Al-Auja in Jordan Valley; IDF Manhunt Ends in Arrest

On Sunday, August 23, 2026, a 16-year-old Palestinian from the village of al-Auja attacked 24-year-old Israeli career soldier Elhanan Hananya as he returned to his car after stopping to buy cigarettes on a highway roughly 8 kilometers north of Jericho in the West Bank's Jordan Valley. Hananya, who was traveling with his pregnant wife, two daughters and father-in-law to celebrate his wedding anniversary, was stabbed several times from behind, suffering a broken shoulder and internal bleeding; he was hospitalized in moderate condition at Shaare Zedek Medical Center and later reported stable and conscious. The IDF launched an hours-long manhunt involving special forces, roadblocks and Israeli Air Force aircraft, and by late afternoon apprehended the suspect, who was handed to the Shin Bet for questioning; troops subsequently operated at the suspect's family home as part of the response.