Israeli Police and Shin Bet Arrest Additional Suspect in Attack on Jewish Shepherds Near Ma'kaneh Avraham

Israeli police and the Shin Bet have arrested another suspect in the assault on three Jewish shepherds near the Ma'kaneh Avraham outpost earlier this week. The suspect, a Palestinian resident of the village of Rasheedah, was detained during a joint operation involving Etzion police detectives, the Shin Bet, and the IDF. He has been transferred to the Etzion police station for further investigation.

The head of the Judea and Samaria district, Commissioner Moshe Pinchi, described the incident as a serious act of violence that harmed civilians and undermined their sense of security. He emphasized that Israeli security forces will act decisively and professionally to identify all those involved, bring them to justice, and prevent hostile elements from threatening residents' safety.

Earlier this week, police arrested four other residents of Rasheedah suspected of involvement in the attack. The investigation included police and IDF forces entering the village to collect evidence, gather testimonies, and search for suspects who had fled. Intelligence operations were also conducted to identify and locate additional perpetrators.

Eyewitnesses reported that a shepherd was surrounded by several Bedouins from Rasheedah armed with sticks and stones while tending his flock. When local residents arrived to assist, the attackers threw stones to prevent access. During the rescue, two other youths were injured. The shepherd was found unconscious and evacuated along with the two injured individuals.