A clash broke out before the end of the Sabbath in the Susiya area of the southern Hebron Hills, which included stone-throwing - during which a terrorist snatched a weapon from a young Israeli man, about 25 years old, a soldier on leave.
According to testimonies, the suspects fled towards the village of Yatta with the weapons in their possession.
The weapon was later located by IDF forces.
The young man was injured in the head after a stone was thrown at him, and the MDA team evacuated him in moderate condition to Soroka Hospital in Be'er Sheva.
""Following an initial investigation of the incident a short time ago in the area of the Susiya settlement in the Yehuda Brigade, it emerged that terrorists attacked an IDF soldier who was on leave and seized his weapon," the IDF spokesman said in a statement. "After a short time, IDF forces located and returned the weapon. The forces are continuing their pursuit of the terrorist.".
Eliram Azulai, head of the Mount Hebron Council, said after the end of Shabbat: "I am currently near the settlement of Susya. A serious incident occurred here in which an IDF soldier on vacation who was staying at a farm near Susya on Shabbat went out to pasture near the farm. While grazing, several terrorists attacked him, threw stones at him, wounded him in the head, and stole his military weapon.
""The soldier was taken to the hospital in moderate condition. After searches by large army forces, the weapon was located.".
""Terrorism against the settlers is reaching a very dangerous stage. Terrorism is trying to scare us and expel us from here. We will add life and expand settlement in the area. I am strengthening the IDF and calling for a broad operation against terrorism, to enforce illegal construction, and to strengthen governance and presence in the entire area, and to ensure the security of our residents.".
