Four Palestinians Arrested for Animal Abuse at Hebron Wedding

Police in the Judea and Samaria district arrested four Hebron residents on Wednesday, November 11, on suspicion of animal cruelty during a wedding celebration. The suspects include two brothers, aged 27 and 26, one of whom was the groom. A video circulating on social media shows one wedding guest pouring energy drinks into the camel's mouth while a child was on its back. The animal appeared distressed, attempting to expel the liquid. Another guest then began hitting the camel with a stick. Reports indicate that bystanders did not intervene and some even encouraged the abuse. The incident sparked outrage online, particularly among Bedouin communities in the Negev and Palestine, where camels hold significant cultural and symbolic importance. Police identified the individuals involved and conducted a raid, apprehending the four main suspects: two men aged 59 and 53, and their sons aged 26 and 27, one of whom is the groom. All were taken to a Hebron police station for questioning. A police statement condemned the "cruel abuse of an animal," noting that the suspects "forcibly fed the camel alcoholic beverages," though the video and article description refer to energy drinks. The police vowed to "act decisively and uncompromisingly against any suspect in animal cruelty."