Old City of Jerusalem. Photo: Hoy Asmeg.

JNS.org – A 33-year-old Orthodox man was stabbed Tuesday night shortly after breaking his fast for Tisha B’Av in Jerusalem’s Old City, Israel Hayom reported.

Magen David Adom (MDA) medics took the man to Shaare Zedek Medical Center with minor wounds. Large contingents of police arrived on the scene in search of two Arab youths who allegedly stabbed the man. Police speculate that the attack had nationalistic motives.

The man was walking home from the Western Wall and had decided on a route through Damascus Gate. When he reached Sultan Suleiman Street, two Arab youths allegedly assaulted him, stabbed him in the abdomen and fled. The scene began drawing a crowd as other Orthodox people walking on the street at the time witnessed the attack and called the police. Officers dispersed the crowd and brought the wounded man to a nearby ambulance.

“Around nine at night dispatch reported a man had been stabbed at Damascus Gate,” said MDA medic Ariel Litman. “An emergency aid team was sent to the area, there was a big commotion and traffic and police officers brought the wounded man to us. He came to us walking with multiple stab wounds in the chest and abdomen. We provided first aid and took him to a trauma unit.”

At Shaare Zedek Medical Center, medics concluded that the man’s stab wounds were shallow and he was declared lightly wounded. The man told police that he fought off his attackers.