Shlomo Hananiya has spoken publicly about the stabbing attack that left his brother, 24-year-old Elchanan Hananiya, wounded near al-Auja in the Jordan Valley on August 23. Shlomo described a sudden assault in which the attacker allegedly waited for Elchanan and then struck him from behind, stabbing him multiple times. “The terrorist immediately attacked him, stabbing him several times,” Shlomo said, describing the terrifying moments that turned a family outing into a medical emergency.

According to the family, Elchanan, a career IDF soldier from Beitar Illit, had stopped to buy cigarettes while traveling with his pregnant wife, young daughters and father-in-law. The attack allegedly occurred as he returned toward his vehicle, leaving him with multiple stab wounds before the assailant fled the area. The circumstances have intensified concerns over the vulnerability of motorists and families traveling along Route 90 and through the Jordan Valley.

Elchanan was rushed to Shaare Zedek Medical Center in Jerusalem after receiving emergency treatment at the scene. His condition was reported as stable, but his family said he suffered a broken shoulder and internal bleeding and required continued medical care. The fact that he survived an attack involving multiple stab wounds has brought relief to his relatives while the investigation continues.

Israeli security forces launched a large-scale manhunt immediately after the attack, deploying additional troops and establishing roadblocks as they searched for the suspect. Security personnel have been working to reconstruct the attacker’s movements and determine how he approached the victim before escaping. The search has placed heightened attention on the surrounding area as authorities continue pursuing the assailant.

For the Hananiya family, however, the immediate priority is Elchanan’s recovery. Shlomo’s account has provided a deeply personal description of how quickly the violence unfolded, emphasizing that his brother was simply making a brief stop during a family trip when he was suddenly attacked. As the manhunt continues, investigators are working to locate the assailant and establish the full circumstances surrounding the stabbing.