Abdel Hakim Atzi who is suspected stabbing to death the late Rabbi Itamar Ben-Gal near the Ariel junction was located and arrested in Shechem overnight Sunday. The arrest followed intensive intelligence and operational activity by the Shabak, the IDF, and Israel Police.
The Arab terrorist stabbed Rabbi Ben-Gal when the latter was waiting at the bus stop just outside the city of Ariel on February 5, 2018, at 2:26 PM. The terrorist was armed with two knives. After the attack, the terrorist fled, but an IDF officer who saw him running with the knives hit him with his car. The terrorist got up and continued to run, with the officer in pursuit. The officer hit him again. The terrorist got up again and escaped into the Arab village of Kifl Harith.
Sunday’s overnight arrest was the culmination of an ongoing effort since the attack, during which a number of suspects who helped or knew the whereabouts of the assailant were arrested and interrogated.
The captured terrorist, Abdel Hakim Atzi, along with others who were caught with him, were transferred to Shabak interrogations. Atzi was injured during the arrest and received medical treatment from the security forces.