Israeli Injured in West Bank Olive Harvest Clash, Weapon Theft Attempt Foiled

An Israeli man sustained light head injuries during an altercation in grazing lands near Maoz Tzur in the Benjamin region on Thursday. According to the Benjamin Regional Council, the incident began when three Palestinians, who were harvesting olives, refused to leave the area after the arrival of the local security officer and residents from a nearby farm. The council claims the Palestinians then began throwing stones at the residents, injuring one man. They also allege an attempt was made to steal the farm owner's weapon. The owner reportedly fired three shots into the air to deter the attackers. Two of the assailants fled, while a third was detained. Military forces arrived at the scene and treated the injured Israeli. Separately, on Road 463, an object resembling a bomb wrapped in a Hamas flag was found, causing the road to be closed for approximately two hours. It was later determined to be a dummy explosive. These events follow a similar incident in the same area the previous day, where about 100 spikes and barriers were found, a shepherd was attacked with clubs, stones, and tear gas, and around 50 masked individuals approached the area, resulting in minor injuries. The Benjamin Regional Council stated that there has been a significant increase in hostile activity in the region recently, claiming that terrorists responsible for recent attacks originated from this area and that an Israeli was previously abducted there by Palestinian Authority police. The council emphasized that olive harvesting should not be a cover for attacking residents or attempting to steal weapons, calling for proactive measures and decisive action against those exploiting the harvest season for attacks.