Israeli settlers clash with security forces outside IDF base

Tensions flared in the central West Bank on June 29 when dozens of Israeli settlers gathered outside the Binyamin Regional Brigade Headquarters, protesting the recent shooting of a 14-year-old boy. The situation escalated into violence, with some demonstrators reportedly attacking Israeli security personnel, using pepper spray, throwing stones, and vandalising military vehicles.

According to a statement from the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), the protest turned violent, prompting joint action by IDF, Israel Police, and Border Police units to disperse the crowd, Caliber.Az reports.

Israeli Border Police responded to the unrest with crowd-dispersal measures, including the use of stun grenades, in an effort to regain control of the scene. 

The IDF confirmed that one Israeli civilian was injured during the incident and was evacuated for medical treatment. Authorities have not yet released further details on the individual’s condition.

The IDF and Israel Police condemned the violence against security personnel and reaffirmed their commitment to protecting all civilians while enforcing the law.

“The IDF and Israel Police will continue to focus on protecting civilians, while also enforcing the law and preventing any illegal activity, wherever it may occur,” the statement read.

The protest followed an incident on June 28 involving an Israeli teenager who was shot near the settlement of Kochav HaShachar. According to an initial IDF statement, an officer discharged three warning shots during an altercation with settlers, believing them to be Palestinians. The military is currently investigating whether one of those shots struck the 14-year-old. The teen was taken to the hospital in stable condition, according to Honenu, a legal aid organisation that supports settlers.

By Sabina Mammadli