Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Staff Sgt. Tomer Lan was praised for keeping his composure during a terrorist attack. Photo: Twitter.

JNS.org – Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Staff Sgt. Tomer Lan, who was stabbed in the back by a Palestinian terrorist on Wednesday in Samaria, “prevented a larger terrorist attack” when he “acted with composure and as required by a combat soldier,” the IDF said.

Lan was able to shake off his injuries and shoot the terrorist dead. A search of the terrorist’s body revealed a knife and a copy of the Quran. Lan was released after treatment at Shaare Zedek Medical Center in Jerusalem.

“We were tasked with operating in an area near Shiloh,” Lan said,Israel Hayom reported. “I am a medic in the [Tavor] battalion’s medical platoon. Our regular mission was to patrol the road and make our presence felt. In the morning, during our usual mission, I was outside the ambulance, and a Palestinian approached us. He walked by me, did not seem suspicious and then continued on for a hundred meters and disappeared. Seconds later he turned around and came back in my direction. When he was meters away, he began sprinting and screaming and took out a knife, I did not see from where, and stabbed me in the back. I fell into a pile of rocks.”

He continued, “While I was on the ground he entered our vehicle where two of my friends sat, and stabbed them. I got up from the ground, took my weapon, shot, and killed him. After the terrorist was killed, my friend got out of the vehicle and was covered in blood. He spoke to me, said he was okay. I saw how many injuries he had, in the neck, hand. I gave him first aid, stopped his bleeding, and called for emergency medical services and for backup. I myself am okay, only a few cuts in my back.”

Wednesday’s attack marked the second stabbing attack in Samaria in a week. Last Thursday, near Oranit, a soldier from the Paratrooper’s 101st Brigade was stabbed by a Palestinian and lightly wounded. The soldier managed to overpower the attacker and arrest him.