Terror in Uniform: PA Police Officers Kill Israeli Guard in Gush Etzion Attack
Two Palestinian Authority police officers carried out a deadly stabbing and shooting attack at a Gush Etzion shopping complex, killing an Israeli security guard before being neutralized. The incident has prompted a PA investigation and heightened alerts, raising concerns about rogue elements within their ranks.
Earlier today a devastating terror attack at the Rami Levy shopping complex in Gush Etzion claimed the life of 22-year-old Israeli security guard Shalev Zevuloni. The assailants, identified as Mahmoud Yosef Aabed, 23, from Halhul, and Maalek Ibrahim Salem, 23, from Tulkarem, were Palestinian Authority (PA) police officers who were neutralized at the scene by an armed civilian and an IDF soldier. Both attackers, confirmed as active PA security force members, carried out a combined stabbing and shooting assault, using Zevuloni’s stolen handgun after stabbing him multiple times. Notably, Salem had undergone three months of training at a military academy in Qatar, raising concerns about the vetting of PA personnel.
The attackers arrived at the busy shopping center in a stolen vehicle with yellow license plates, suggesting familiarity with the area and deliberate timing during peak Thursday afternoon hours. They spent 40 minutes circling the complex for parking before launching their attack, attempting to enter the supermarket to target civilians. Israeli security officials reported that the PA has heightened its alert status across all sectors, stating, “The Palestinian forces informed us they are raising their alert level dramatically to check for additional rogue elements within their ranks and prevent similar copycat attacks in the coming days.” The IDF is currently holding the bodies of Aabed and Salem.
The attack, which left the Kiryat Arba community mourning Zevuloni, underscores ongoing tensions in Judea and Samaria, where 19 Israeli civilians, including seven settlers, have been killed by Palestinian attackers in 2025, per OCHA data. Social media posts on X expressed shock, with one user noting, “PA officers turning terrorists is a dangerous escalation.” The PA has launched an internal investigation into the failure to prevent the attack, amid broader concerns about its security forces’ reliability, especially given their US and EU-funded training programs. This incident, occurring during stalled Gaza ceasefire talks, highlights the volatile security landscape and challenges in PA-Israel coordination.