Shalev Zvuluny, Hy”d Killed in Gush Etzion Terror Attack by 2 Plestinian Policemen

Shalev Zvuluny Hy”d, a security guard, was tragically killed in a terror attack by two Palestinian police officers at a bustling shopping complex in the Gush Etzion Junction on Thursday.

According to military, police, and medical reports, the two Palestinian terrorists responsible for the assault were subsequently shot dead by a quick-thinking soldier and an armed civilian present at the scene. West blBank District Commander Moshe Pinchi briefed reporters, confirming the neutralization of the assailants.

Shalev, 22, was a resident of Kiryat Arba.

Preliminary investigations reveal that the two terrorists arrived at the shopping center in a stolen vehicle. They then proceeded to stab a security guard outside of a supermarket. The assailants managed to snatch Shalev’s handgun and engaged in a firefight with the soldier and armed civilian before being killed.

Shalev was initially reported to be in critical condition but was pronounced dead by Magen David Adom medics shortly after the attack.

The council of the Chevron-adjacent settlement expressed deep sorrow over Shalev’s passing, describing him as “a special person, beloved by those who knew him,” and extended their condolences and support to his grieving family.

Following the attack, IDF troops swiftly surrounded the nearby town of Halhul, implementing roadblocks in the area.

The perpetrators were later identified as Mahmoud Abed, 23, from Halhul, and Malik Salem, 23, from Tulkarem. Both were Palestinian Authority police officers who had only recently completed their training, The Times of Israel learned. A defense official stated that neither Abed nor Salem had any prior security record or had been previously detained by Israel.

The armed civilian who helped neutralize the terrorists recounted his experience to Channel 12 news, stating he was in line at the checkout when gunshots erupted. “Someone entered the store and yelled that there were terrorists outside. I left everything in the store, and immediately ran outside together with a soldier who was in civilian clothing,” he recalled. “There was a lot of shooting. We didn’t know exactly where it was coming from. In the end, we managed to identify the two terrorists who were hiding and killed them,” he added.

Ilan, another witness, described hearing gunfire from all directions, emphasizing that “it was a miracle a greater disaster didn’t occur.”

Earlier on Thursday, an IDF soldier was stabbed by a Palestinian during operations in the village of Rummanah, near Jenin.