IDF Suspends Off-Duty Soldier After West Bank Stone-Throwing Incident
The Israel Defense Forces suspended an off-duty soldier on Sunday after he opened fire on Palestinians in the West Bank, following an alleged stone-throwing attack near the village of al-Mughayyir on Saturday. The military confirmed it is investigating the incident, which occurred amid clashes between Israeli settlers and Palestinian residents.
What happened in al-Mughayyir?
According to the IDF, troops were dispatched multiple times to al-Mughayyir on Saturday after reports of confrontations between settlers who entered the village and local Palestinian residents. The clashes reportedly involved stone-throwing and barriers placed on roads, though the army did not specify which side initiated those actions.
Soldiers acted to disperse the confrontation and remove the roadblocks, the military said, adding that troops themselves came under stone-throwing during the operation.
Later, the army received a report from an off-duty soldier who said Palestinians hurled stones at him on the outskirts of the village. The soldier fired at the Palestinians while no other troops were in the area. The IDF said it is unaware of any injuries caused by the gunfire.
The soldier was detained by police for questioning and suspended pending the investigation.
Second shooting under investigation near Jenin
In a separate incident on Saturday, the military is investigating a soldier who shot a Palestinian man in the leg during a clash with settlers near the village of Faqoua, close to Jenin. Footage showed the man was not throwing stones or posing an apparent threat when he was shot.
The injured man was taken by the Palestinian Red Crescent for treatment; his condition has not been disclosed.
Troops had been dispatched to the area following reports of a confrontation between Palestinians and settlers from the newly established Zayit Bagilboa farming outpost, who had brought livestock to graze on land in the region.
The Palestinian Authority's WAFA news agency claims the land belongs to Faqoua, while Army Radio reported it was declared part of the settlement farm when it was founded earlier this summer.
Footage showed at least three settlers, one armed, standing with soldiers when the man was shot. Troops continued firing in the air even as Palestinians carried the injured man away.
The military said that after Palestinians allegedly hurled stones at settlers, troops who arrived at the scene fired shots in the air and at a Palestinian. The incident is being investigated, with findings to be forwarded for review by relevant authorities.
Context: farming outposts and security challenges
Saturday's clashes occurred on Rosh Hashanah, one of the holiest days of the Jewish year. Farming outposts like Zayit Bagilboa are considered illegal under Israeli law when established without all necessary permits, though most receive varying degrees of government support, and some have later been formally recognized.
The left-wing Peace Now organization reports that some 120 farming outposts have been established since the current government came to power. While these agricultural communes help expand Israel's presence in the West Bank, some have unfortunately become hotbeds for violence that terrorizes nearby Palestinian communities.
The IDF remains committed to maintaining order and security while investigating all incidents thoroughly, ensuring that soldiers uphold the highest standards of conduct even in challenging circumstances.