Israeli Reserve Soldiers Refuse Order to Guard Police Investigating Palestinian Home Arson

Reserve soldiers from the Combat Engineering Battalion (GEMAR) refused an order to secure a police force investigating the arson of a Palestinian home in the village of Furik near Nablus. The arson attack, carried out by Jewish rioters during the night between Saturday and Sunday, prompted police to enter the scene for investigation. According to protocol, a military unit was required to accompany and protect the police during the inquiry. Although the reserve unit was initially assigned the task, the soldiers declined the order. The company commander reassigned the mission to another force, which completed it.

Following the arson, IDF observers spotted four masked individuals running in an open area nearby. A military force was deployed to conduct a foot search, prepared for potential confrontation with militants. During the search, two suspects hiding in bushes identified themselves as Jewish at the last moment. Initial investigations suggested they were part of a group returning from the Palestinian village, whose vehicle had broken down, causing them to flee into the fields. The two were detained, handed over to police, and their detention was extended by court order.

Additionally, a mosque was set on fire in a West Bank village, with the graffiti "Revenge Binyahu" sprayed nearby, occurring a day after the arson attack. Israeli individuals reportedly entered the Palestinian village without authorization.