Border Police Officers Attacked Near Qalandiya Checkpoint; Suspects Found to Be Security Guards

In an unusual incident near the Qalandiya checkpoint on the morning of July 7, Border Police officers were attacked by several suspects traveling in a civilian vehicle. The officers were en route to an operational mission and were passing through a checkpoint designated exclusively for security forces when the vehicle, coming from the West Bank, attempted to enter Israeli territory.

When the officers approached the vehicle to verify the identities of the passengers, the suspects exited and assaulted the officers with punches and chokeholds, attempting to seize their weapons. One female officer fired a warning shot into the air, but the suspects continued their attack. In response, a Border Police officer fired at the lower bodies of two suspects after seeing one choking a fellow officer and perceiving a direct threat to his life and those of his colleagues.

The injured suspects, who were later identified as employed security guards but were not recognized as such during the incident, sustained light injuries and received initial medical treatment on-site before being evacuated for further care. Several Border Police officers also suffered minor injuries. The circumstances of the event are currently under investigation.