On the morning of September 12, 2025, tranquility in the Judean Hills was shattered when a stabbing attack erupted at a hotel in Kibbutz Tzuba, just west of Jerusalem. What began as an ordinary day for hotel guests and staff quickly descended into chaos and violence, leaving two men wounded and a community once again grappling with the specter of terror.
According to The Jerusalem Post and corroborated by the Associated Press, the attack occurred in the hotel’s dining room as guests were settling in for a meal. The assailant, later identified as a 42-year-old Arab resident of the Shuafat refugee camp in northeastern Jerusalem, was a dishwasher employed at the hotel through a manpower company. Witnesses reported that he emerged from the kitchen wielding a knife, targeting two unsuspecting hotel guests.
The victims, a man in his fifties and a 23-year-old, suffered stab wounds to their torsos. Emergency responders from United Hatzalah and Magen David Adom (MDA) rushed to the scene. MDA reported that the older victim was in critical condition while the younger was in moderate condition. Both were evacuated to Hadassah-University Medical Center in Jerusalem’s Ein Kerem for urgent care. United Hatzalah paramedics described the injuries as “penetrating injuries to the upper torso,” emphasizing the seriousness of the attack.
Amid the panic, an off-duty police officer attending a family event at the hotel sprang into action. Recounting the harrowing moments, he told Stand for Israel, “I was at a family event at the hotel when I noticed a crowd rushing out. I immediately realized something unusual was happening, so I shouted for people to stay calm and walk instead of running. I drew my gun, grabbed identification for myself, and ran toward the direction the crowd had fled from.”
Rather than resorting to gunfire, the officer relied on physical force to subdue the attacker, a decision aimed at minimizing the risk to other civilians present. “To minimize the risk to remaining civilians, I subdued the terrorist using only physical force, not gunfire. With the help of some others, we managed to pin him to the ground and put him in handcuffs,” he explained. The hotel’s dining manager and other bystanders assisted in restraining the assailant, using belts and handcuffs until more officers arrived and made the arrest.
Eyewitnesses described a chilling scene. Some reported hearing the attacker shout “Allahu Akbar” and claim that he “wanted to die,” according to The Times of Israel. The police later confirmed that the weapon used was a kitchen knife, and that three additional individuals were arrested on suspicion of involvement in the attack. The swift response by the off-duty officer and courageous guests likely prevented further bloodshed.
This stabbing was not an isolated incident. It was, in fact, the second attack by a Palestinian in the area that week. Just days earlier, two Palestinians from the West Bank had opened fire at a bus stop in northern Jerusalem, killing six Israeli civilians. That attack was claimed by Hamas, the militant group based in Gaza, which has been at the heart of the conflict with Israel since its October 7, 2023 incursion that triggered the ongoing war in Gaza. While Hamas praised the Kibbutz Tzuba stabbing, it did not claim direct responsibility for this particular incident, as reported by the Associated Press.
The aftermath of these attacks has left Israeli society on edge. The Jerusalem area, already marked by heightened security and grief, has seen an increased presence of Border Police from the Mateh Yehuda region. In response to the surge in violence, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have expanded counter-terrorism operations across Judea and Samaria. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, following Israeli airstrikes in Qatar on September 10, 2025, announced preparations for targeted killings of Hamas leaders abroad, a move aimed at deterring further attacks and holding those responsible to account.
The escalation is not limited to the Jerusalem area. The ongoing war in Gaza, ignited by Hamas’ attack in late 2023, has resulted in tens of thousands of Palestinian deaths and a dramatic increase in violence throughout Israel and the occupied West Bank. As the cycle of violence continues, each new incident reverberates through communities, deepening wounds and fueling anxieties about what may come next.
For the residents and guests of Kibbutz Tzuba, the attack served as a stark reminder of the ever-present risks facing Israelis amid the broader conflict. The hotel, nestled in the picturesque Judean Hills and typically known for its peaceful surroundings, became the latest scene of a national tragedy. In the words of Stand for Israel, “The people of Israel are already grieving in the wake of a week marked by devastating terror. Just as some healing is being done, another horrific instance of hate presents itself.”
Local and international organizations, including the Fellowship and its supporters, have offered prayers and support to the victims and their families. Their efforts, while a source of comfort, underscore the resilience required by communities repeatedly struck by violence. The heroism displayed by the off-duty police officer and bystanders has also been widely praised, with many crediting their quick thinking and bravery for preventing a potentially larger tragedy.
In the broader context, the attack at Kibbutz Tzuba is emblematic of the challenges facing Israel as it confronts both organized militant groups and so-called "lone wolf" assailants. The involvement of a hotel employee, someone who worked alongside the victims, adds a layer of complexity and unease. It raises difficult questions about security, trust, and the daily realities of coexistence in a region fraught with tension.
As the investigation continues, Israeli authorities remain vigilant. The arrest of three additional suspects has prompted further scrutiny of possible networks or accomplices behind the attack. Security forces are likely to maintain a heightened presence in the area for the foreseeable future, especially given the recent spate of violence and the ongoing war in Gaza.
For now, the focus remains on the victims—two men whose lives were upended in an instant—and on the community of Kibbutz Tzuba, which must find a way to recover from yet another blow. The events of September 12, 2025, will not soon be forgotten, serving as both a cautionary tale and a testament to the courage of ordinary people caught in extraordinary circumstances.
