The victims. They did not self harm.
Naor Shalev Ben-Ezra, the 13-year-old boy from Jerusalem, survived the attack, after had been critically injured by the cousins while he was riding his bike. [8] The knife had pierced his subclavian artery, causing severe bleeding that field medics struggled to control. Initially presumed dead upon arrival at Mount Scopus, the Hadassah medical team, led by Dr. Yoachim Shiffman, identified signs of life. Dr. Shiffman manually controlled the bleeding by inserting his fingers into the artery for 15 minutes. Vascular surgeon Ina Akopnick, racing against time, performed a crucial operation to close the truncated artery, aided by Professor Achmed Eid, Director of General Surgery at Hadassah Medical Center, who opened the chest cavity for the procedure. His gradual awakening in intensive care marked the beginning of his recovery journey.[9]
Ben-Ezra's recovery was marked by significant celebration, attended by family, friends, Deputy Mayor of Jerusalem Meir Turgeman, media reporters, and David Dalfon, the first medical responder who played a crucial role in saving Ben-Ezra's life.[8]
After recovering physically from the stabbing attack, Ben-Ezra faced significant emotional and psychological struggles. Despite an impressive physical recovery, Naor felt isolated and misunderstood. He described feeling emotionally dead, saying, "You are not treated, you are dead." This emotional turmoil led to a rapid decline in his well-being. Naor began using drugs, gambling, accruing debts at a young age, and generally struggling to function. Over time, however, he managed to find his way back to a more stable life. He took up painting, found love, and got married.[10]
The adult victim, Yosef Ben-Shalom, also suffered serious injuries, including damage to the lung and liver