Israeli Forces Arrest Two Palestinians Suspected of Arson in Gilead Farm Fire

Israeli Border Police special forces in the West Bank and IDF troops arrested two Palestinians suspected of involvement in the arson that caused a major fire at the Gilead Farm settlement last Saturday. The arrests took place during a joint operation by the Central Unit and the Shin Bet command center in the Judea and Samaria district, alongside Border Police and IDF soldiers from the Samaria Brigade. The suspects were transferred to the Judea and Samaria district police for further investigation.

The Gilead Farm residents' committee welcomed the arrests, emphasizing the severity of the incident which destroyed dozens of homes and left many families homeless. They called on law enforcement to treat the arson as an act of terrorism and to impose the harshest legal penalties on those responsible. The committee also expressed gratitude to the Israeli public for their ongoing support in the settlement's recovery efforts.

National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir praised the swift and professional police work leading to the arrests. He stated that those who commit such acts of terror will be relentlessly pursued and brought to justice, affirming the government's firm stance on protecting Israeli civilians.

Police investigations suggest the fire was likely ignited by a discarded cigarette, with no other incendiary materials found at the scene. Security cameras from the IDF and Shin Bet recorded the initial fire site and vehicles passing on Highway 55 at the time, identifying a Palestinian vehicle as a probable source due to low Israeli traffic during the incident.

The fire at Gilead Farm remains a focal point of security and community recovery efforts in the region.