IDF Investigates Soldier Filming Palestinian Teenager After Violent Clashes

The Israeli military is investigating an incident where a soldier filmed himself holding a Palestinian teenager and addressing his father, reportedly after violent clashes between settlers and Palestinian Bedouins near the village of Taybeh in the Benjamin region. During a sweep of a home for weapons, the soldier recorded himself with the teenager, whose brother was injured in the earlier confrontation. The soldier, speaking to the boy's father who had apparently fled, said, "Your son is here, boom, beaten up, brother. Beaten up. You should come." The IDF stated the soldier acted on his own initiative.

Mohammed Kaabneh, the teenager's father, told Ynet that settlers have been harassing his family with their flocks in the area for about 18 months, with recent escalations including approaching their home, throwing stones, and causing damage. He claims settlers arrived with their flocks again on Tuesday evening, and one settler sprayed gas at his 16-year-old son. While Kaabneh was at the hospital with his son, he said older settlers, whom he recognized, entered his home along with IDF forces. He alleged that the soldier beat his son and called him, threatening to demolish their home. Upon returning from the hospital, Kaabneh found personal belongings, including money, an iPad, cameras, and other equipment, had been stolen, with damages estimated at approximately 10,000 shekels.

Separately, the Palestinian Health Ministry reported that a 51-year-old Palestinian, Muhur Yassin, was killed by settlers near the village of Yasuf in Samaria after clashes involving stone-throwing at civilians and the military. The IDF stated that after Palestinians threw stones at Israeli civilians and soldiers near Yasuf, forces dispersed the involved parties and fired at stone-throwers, hitting some. Israeli police and forensic investigators began collecting evidence, and the IDF is searching for those involved in the stone-throwing.