16-Year-Old Palestinian Caught in Neve Daniel Admits: "I Came to Stab a Soldier"

Police said on Tuesday that the 16 year old Palestinian teenager apprehended last Shabbat by the security coordinator of the Neve Daniel community had planned to carry out a stabbing attack.

During questioning at the Etzion police station, the teenager admitted that he had planned to harm an Israeli soldier and “end his life as a martyr.”

As previously reported, on Saturday night, authorities received a report of an attempted infiltration into the Neve Daniel community in Gush Etzion by a 16 year old Palestinian. He was apprehended by the community’s security coordinator and an IDF force. At the time of his arrest, he claimed that he had entered the community because he was thirsty and looking for water.

However, during questioning over the past 24 hours, the suspect, a resident of Nahalin, admitted that he had intended to harm an IDF soldier whom he encountered, out of a desire to die as a martyr. He also said that before leaving his home, he had kissed his mother’s hand.

As part of the investigation, the suspect accompanied investigators from the Etzion police station along the route he had taken on Saturday from his home to the Israeli community and pointed out where he had hidden the knife. During a search of the area, officers found a kitchen knife measuring several centimeters in length beneath a metal bench. The suspect said he had taken it from his home.

Following the reconstruction, the suspect was taken into custody. Police intend to request an extension of his detention in order to complete the investigation and bring him to trial.