Israeli Civilians Injured in Unapproved Hike Amid Stone-Throwing Attack in Gush Etzion

On Friday, a group of Israeli civilians hiking near Misad in eastern Gush Etzion was attacked by dozens of Palestinians throwing stones, resulting in injuries to the Israelis. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed the incident, noting that the hike was not authorized by the military. The IDF troops responded by deploying to the nearby Palestinian village of Sa’ir in the Etzion Brigade area after reports of stone-throwing at the Israeli group.

During the confrontation, an Israeli security personnel fired shots, causing injuries among some Palestinians. Additionally, firefighters responded to a report of a building set on fire in the area. The IDF forces worked to disperse the clashes and evacuated the Israeli civilians from the scene. The military emphasized that unauthorized hikes endanger participants and divert security forces from their defense and counterterrorism duties.

The Judea and Samaria police district is currently cooperating with the IDF to collect evidence and testimonies as part of an ongoing investigation into the incident.