Two settlers were critically injured overnight Tuesday after being shot by an Israeli security officer near the settlement of Ramat Gilad in Samaria. The incident followed a foot chase spanning hundreds of meters involving a policeman and a soldier pursuing the men who had fled (Two Israelis Shot in Samaria (Shomron) Incident).
אירוע שהתחיל לצאת משליטה בכפר הפלסטיני פונדוק. כ- 50 יהודים רעולי פנים פשטו על הכפר, יידו אבנים לעבר פלסטינים, הציתו 3 מבנים ו- 3 רכבים. כוחות רבים של צה”ל ומג”ב הוקפצו למקום וביצעו ירי באוויר. במקביל הוקפצו כוחות נוספים. טרם הושגה שליטה על האירוע. במקום שצה”ל יתעסק במלחמה בטרור,… pic.twitter.com/euzzeL8496
— איתי בלומנטל ?? Itay Blumental (@ItayBlumental) January 20, 2025
Preliminary investigations suggest that the altercation began when an argument erupted between the policeman and a group of Jewish youths. During the confrontation, pepper spray was used against the policeman, who then reportedly lost control and fired indiscriminately. Witnesses at the scene claim it was a chaotic series of shots, with the soldier accompanying the policeman also opening fire.
The shootings left several boys injured. One was struck by a bullet in the head, while another sustained a gunshot wound to the shoulder. Additional injuries were treated on-site by paramedics and medical personnel, negating the need for hospital evacuation for some of those affected.
גורם צבאי: עשרות ישראלים רעולי פנים מציתים כלי רכב ומספר מבנים בכפר פונדוק בשומרון pic.twitter.com/6Wyb1dRxE3
— הוד בראל Hod Barel (@hod_barel) January 20, 2025
An initial investigation by Police Internal Affairs revealed that a settlers’ demonstration in the village of al-Funduq escalated into severe disturbances and violent clashes between Jewish “hill youths” and PA Arabs. During the chaos, vehicles and greenhouses in the village were reportedly set on fire.
IDF and Border Guard forces were deployed to the scene to quell the unrest but struggled to manage the situation as the event spiraled out of control with the arrival of a large number of Jewish settlers.
Nearly two weeks have passed since the deadly attack in the al-Funduq area of central Samaria, near Kedumim, where three terrorists from Jenin opened fire on vehicles and buses along Route 55. The attack claimed the lives of three people: Sergeant Elad Yaakov Winkelstein, 35, from Ein Hanatziv, an investigator at the Ariel police station; and Kedumim residents Rachel Cohen, 73, and Aliza Reiz, 70. Eleven others were injured in the incident and were transported to Beilinson and Meir hospitals for treatment.
תג מחיר – עכשיו התקפת מתנחלים ושריפת הכפרים פונדוק וג’ינספות מזרחית לקלקיליה.
בשביל ממשלת ישראל, אי אפשר להציל חיים משני הצדדים בלי לגבות מחיר – ועכשיו, בחסות שחרור עצירים מינהליים, הם מבעירים מלחמה חדשה בגדה המערבית.
חייבים לעצור את הדם! pic.twitter.com/lW1jH5XW3v
— קולקטיב מזרחי-אזרחי (@MizrahiCivic) January 20, 2025
According to the settlers, after the shooting, the policeman became distraught and started crying instead of taking control of the situation. Witnesses reported that he repeatedly said, “What have I done?” and “Internal Affairs will have their way with me.” In contrast, the soldier, who is also a medic, assisted in treating the wounded.
These accounts suggest that both the policeman and the soldier were aware they were pursuing Jews, as they had been following the group over a considerable distance. A senior police official described the incident as a grave event with tragic outcomes, telling News 14: “This was a challenging and unfortunate incident. We have independently approached the police to request the appointment of an external body to thoroughly investigate the truth.”
Oz’El Vetak, head of the Kedumim Council, on Sunday urged the authorities to take immediate action to remove the unauthorized shops.
“Our message is clear: our blood will not be spilled in vain,” declared Vetak. “We cannot accept a return to normalcy while the blood of our brothers and sisters stains al-Funduq’s soil. Residents of Kedumim and neighboring communities will maintain their presence here until the situation changes and the illegal shops endangering our lives are removed!”
