Security Guard Shoots at Palestinians During Unauthorized Jewish Haredi Tour Near Hebron, IDF Investigates

On Friday afternoon, a group of Haredi Jews conducted an unauthorized tour near the village of Kharbat Harmoush in the Sa'ir area close to Hebron, leading to clashes with local Palestinians. According to security sources, Palestinians threw stones at the group upon their arrival. A security guard from a nearby outpost fired warning shots into the air and later shot toward Palestinians who did not disperse. Palestinians reported that a 17-year-old was killed in the shooting. Both the Israeli police and the IDF are investigating the incident, including the security guard's claim that the Palestinians posed a threat by not retreating. Palestinians also accused the Jewish visitors of throwing a Molotov cocktail at a house, setting it on fire, and reported that a 70-year-old man was injured by live fire from settlers. They further claimed that armed settler groups attacked residents’ homes, fired at locals, and set a building ablaze.

The IDF stated that forces responded to reports of stone-throwing at the unauthorized tour group, which resulted in injuries to Israeli civilians. Firefighters extinguished the reported building fire. The IDF emphasized that unauthorized tours endanger participants and divert military resources from defense and counterterrorism missions. Police and IDF forces are currently collecting evidence and testimonies at the scene.

Unauthorized tours by settler groups in the West Bank, often ideologically motivated to assert claims over the land, have increased, especially during holidays and summer breaks. This rise coincides with a significant expansion of settlements and numerous illegal outposts established closer to Palestinian villages, leading to frequent tensions. Extremist elements are also attempting to blur the distinctions between Areas A, B, and C under the Oslo Accords by establishing outposts in Area B and increasing settler presence near Palestinian communities.

The West Bank Division and Central Command are heavily strained, with 25 battalions deployed across the area, forcing troops to respond to such incidents instead of focusing on operational tasks like arrests and protecting settlements and roads. The Defense Minister, Israel Katz, recently instructed the IDF to prepare a plan transferring all enforcement authority over Israeli civilians in the West Bank to the police. This move follows remarks by IDF Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir, who highlighted the expanding missions in the West Bank amid rising nationalist crime and the establishment of new settlements. Zamir stressed that the IDF should concentrate on combating Palestinian terrorism and border defense, while police should handle civilian law enforcement.