A Palestinian terrorist murdered a 13-year-old Israeli girl in her bedroom on Thursday after infiltrating into the Jewish community of Kiryat Arba, next to Hebron, in the West Bank. The terrorist broke into the home of Hallel Yaffa Ariel and stabbed her, wounding her critically. She was taken to hospital but succumbed to her wounds and was pronounced dead in the hospital. The assailant, identified by the Palestinian Health Ministry as Mohammed Tarayreh, 17, from the nearby Bani Naim village, was shot dead by Kiryat Arba security personnel. One security officer who rushed to the scene was also shot and seriously wounded. The wounded security officer, a Kiryat Arba resident in his 30s, was transported to Hadassah Medical Center in Jerusalem with multiple gunshot wounds. His wife, an emergency medical volunteer, was on the team of emergency responders who treated him at the scene. She later accompanied him to the hospital. Kiryat Arba Mayor Malachi Levinger told Army Radio that a Palestinian had climbed a security fence and entered a family home, where he attacked the girl. "Two members of a response team exchanged fire with him," Levinger said. "One of them was wounded and the terrorist was killed." Kiryat Arba residents were initially instructed to remain inside their homes, but that directive has now been lifted, with residents to resume their normal routines. Magen David Adom paramedic Dvora Aviad recounted, "I saw a girl, about 13, and a man about 30 lying near the entrance of the house with serious injuries. The girl was unconscious, wasn't breathing, and did not have a pulse. She had suffered several serious wounds to her upper body. "We administered lifesaving treatment at the scene, including CPR and mouth-to-mouth resuscitation as well as stopping the bleeding. We quickly transported her to the hospital while continuing resuscitation efforts. Her condition was very serious. "The other victim was fully conscious and communicated with us the entire way to the hospital." In a statement, Netanyahu said, "The horrific murder of an innocent girl in her bed demonstrates the bloodlust and inhumanity of the incitement fueled terrorists we are facing. The entire nation deeply identifies with the family and says to the murderers -- you will not break us. We will continue to act with determination and resoluteness against terrorism anywhere and anytime. "The whole world must condemn this murder, just as it condemned the attacks in Orlando and Brussels. I expect the Palestinian leadership to unequivocally condemn this brutal murder and take immediate action to end incitement. "Enlightened nations must join us in this demand and apply pressure on those who head the system of incitement that leads to the murder of children in their beds, rather than condemn a country that defends its children and citizens."
Following the attack, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a security consultation with Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman.
