IDF Soldier Arrested After Allegedly Shooting Wounded Palestinian

An Israeli soldier undergoing training as a commander's assistant was arrested by military police (MP) on suspicion of shooting and wounding a Palestinian in the northern West Bank. The incident occurred on Saturday near the Palestinian village of Fiqin, close to the settlement of Ma'ayanim, which is slated for establishment on the "Zait La'Gilboa" farm.

The soldier was providing security for a Jewish shepherd tending his flock in the area as part of an IDF reinforcement of agricultural farms ahead of a holiday. The soldier, on his first operational mission in the West Bank, was accompanying the shepherd when they deviated from their authorized area. A group of several dozen Palestinians from Fiqin approached them, leading to a confrontation.

According to soldiers and settlers, they felt threatened as the Palestinians surrounded them, with some advancing. The soldier initially fired into the air to disperse the crowd. However, video footage appears to show him then firing at the leg of one of the Palestinians, who was injured. Military police have launched an investigation into the incident, with the soldier detained on suspicion of disproportionate use of force.

An IDF source stated that while open-fire regulations in the West Bank permit the use of live fire when forces are in danger, any shooting must adhere to procedures and be justified. The source emphasized that the IDF operates lawfully, requiring "considered and proportionate" weapon use, distinguishing it from a militia where any soldier might fire without restraint when facing danger.