Israeli Farmer Brutally Beaten by Masked Assailants in Front of Grandson in Upper Galilee

Ephraim Halfela, a 65-year-old farmer near the Shde Eliezer settlement in the Upper Galilee, was violently attacked with clubs by two masked men on his grazing land while accompanied by his five-year-old grandson. The incident occurred when Halfela spotted a suspicious ATV without a license plate and took photos of it on his phone, fearing cattle theft in the area. Shortly after, the two masked assailants caught up to him, demanded he delete the photos and hand over his phone, and when he refused, they began beating him repeatedly with clubs in front of his terrified grandson.

Halfela sustained serious wounds and bruises to his back and arm. Realizing the danger was escalating, he decided to flee with his grandson, leading to a nearly three-kilometer chase by the attackers. The traumatic event has deeply affected the young child, and Halfela’s son, Yair, expressed frustration over the lack of state protection and sovereignty in the area. He warned, "This time it ended like this, tomorrow it could be with a gun."

The family is demanding immediate government action to restore security and law enforcement for farmers in the region. They call for the implementation of the Northern Farms Law, establishment of permanent presence farms on grazing lands, and arming farmers for self-defense. The Israeli police stated that an investigation has been opened to locate the suspects and uncover the truth behind the attack.