IDF Commander Describes Lynching Attempt on Palestinian Family in Jalud

A commander of the Border Police (Magav) described a violent riot in the Palestinian village of Jalud on Wednesday, where over 200 Israeli settlers allegedly attempted to lynch the Toubasi family. Commander R., who led the Magav force securing the family's return to their home, stated that the settlers attacked his troops with rocks and pepper spray, slashing vehicle tires, and desperately sought to enter the family's home. Three officers sustained minor injuries, and the commander himself was struck by a large rock that hit his helmet.

The commander explained that he decided against making arrests during the riot to avoid further escalating the situation, emphasizing his troops' professionalism and restraint in using crowd dispersal methods. He noted that even after the family was inside their home, settlers attempted to break in through windows. Magav forces then moved the family to the attic and blocked the stairs to prevent the mob from reaching them.

Following the incident, the settlers set fire to the Toubasi family's home and another adjacent house. The commander vowed that those responsible would be held accountable. The commander of the Border Police, Superintendent General Shimon Ivry, condemned the violence against his officers and praised their determination in preventing harm to the family and avoiding casualties among the rioters.

Meanwhile, a magistrate court ordered the release of two of the three suspects arrested in connection with the riots to house arrest, stating their mere presence at the scene was insufficient evidence. The investigation, involving the police and Shin Bet, is ongoing. President Isaac Herzog visited the IDF's Judea and Samaria Division and denounced the settlers' actions as 'nationalist crime' that harms Israel's reputation and is 'neither Jewish nor moral,' urging political leadership to provide tools to eradicate such phenomena.