IDF Soldier on Leave Detained for Shooting Palestinian Minor in West Bank

An Israeli Defense Forces soldier on leave was detained on suspicion of shooting a Palestinian minor near the village of Al-Mu'ayer in the Binyamin area of the West Bank. The soldier's personal weapon was confiscated following the arrest. The incident was reported to the IDF on Friday night after a Palestinian minor was reportedly shot in the back. The IDF stated that the circumstances are under investigation by the police.

The Palestinian official news agency WAFA reported that the victim is a 10-year-old boy who was shot with live ammunition, allegedly by settlers near a sheep farm west of the village. Meanwhile, Israeli forces are preparing to demolish the home of a Palestinian assailant from the village of Tal, who had seized an IDF officer’s weapon during a recent attack in Samaria. The attacker opened fire on a group of Israelis, resulting in the deaths of Lieutenant Colonel Yuval Ezra and Binyahu Malat, a security team member at the Gilad farm.

Family members of the attacker have been ordered to evacuate the house within 72 hours ahead of the planned demolition. The IDF continues to investigate both the shooting incident involving the soldier and the recent terror attack in the region.