IDF Soldier Decorated for Bravery during Terror Attack

The IDF honored a soldier for neutralizing a terrorist who was in the midst of slaughtering the Salomon family.

The head of the IDF’s Judea and Samaria Command on Wednesday awarded a citation to an IDF soldier who shot a terrorist as he was murdering a family in the community of Halamish in Samaria.

On July 21, Palestinian terrorist Omar al-Abed infiltrated the Salomon home and fatally stabbed Yosef Salomon, 70, and his children Chaya Salomon, 46, and Elad Salomon, 36. Yosef’s wife Tova, 68, was seriously wounded.

The brutal attack occurred as the family was gathered around the table for a festive Sabbath meal and to celebrate the birth of a new grandson.

Ayin (identified by the first Hebrew letter of his name), a soldier on home leave who heard the commotion, rushed to the scene and shot and wounded the terrorist, thus preventing Abed from murdering other family members.

Elad’s wife Michal and her five children fled to an upstairs room and locked the door until first responders arrived.

Emergency services encountered the most shocking of scenes: a house ready for Shabbat, with the table prepared and food and drink on the table in honor of the new grandchild, a celebration traditionally called the Shalom Zachar. But everywhere in the home, there was so much blood from the victims.

The citation said that Ayin “engaged the enemy and displayed perseverance, bravery and balanced judgement that had prevented a worse disaster.”

After neutralizing the terrorist, the soldier treated Tova, his kindergarten teacher.

Shimon Maoz, Ayin’s father, who assisted his son at the scene of the attack, received a certificate of appreciation for showing “bravery and exemplary citizenship.”

“This was an act of terrorism committed by a beast incited by wild hatred,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said of the attack.

By: United with Israel Staff