The large-scale manhunt for the suspect behind Sunday’s stabbing attack near al-Auja in the Jordan Valley has ended with Israeli security forces capturing the alleged attacker. The 24-year-old Israeli victim was moderately wounded after stopping near a shopping area along Route 90, where the attacker allegedly approached him from behind and fled immediately after the stabbing. Israeli forces launched an extensive pursuit across al-Auja, Jericho and surrounding areas as they worked to locate the suspect.

The attack triggered a major security response involving IDF units, police, roadblocks and intelligence-gathering operations. Soldiers conducted searches and questioned individuals in the area while security forces worked to establish the attacker’s movements and identify his escape route. According to the IDF, intelligence guidance and cooperation with the Shin Bet played a role in locating and capturing the suspect.

The victim, identified as Elchanan Hanania, was evacuated to Shaare Zedek Medical Center in Jerusalem after receiving emergency treatment at the scene. Hanania, a career IDF soldier from Beitar Illit, had reportedly stopped to make a purchase while traveling with his pregnant wife and family when the attack occurred. His condition was later described as stable, although he sustained multiple stab wounds and required continued medical treatment.

Footage from the incident and the subsequent security operation has drawn attention to how quickly the attack unfolded and how extensively Israeli forces responded afterward. Security personnel established checkpoints and roadblocks around al-Auja and searched areas extending toward Jericho as the suspect remained at large. The eventual capture followed hours of searches and intelligence-driven operations in the region.

The arrest now shifts the focus from the immediate manhunt to the investigation into the attack and the circumstances surrounding the suspect’s actions. Authorities will seek to determine the attacker’s motives, establish whether he acted alone and reconstruct his movements before and after the stabbing. The incident has nevertheless highlighted once again the security risks facing Israelis traveling along Route 90 and through the Jordan Valley, where a routine stop quickly turned into a violent attack.