Settlers burn village's electric cables, hamper IDF response

2 settlers fire at Israeli paraglider, Palestinian homes, in separate incidents

Both are members of West Bank ‘area defense force’ units, made up of reservists; paraglider mistaken for terrorist infiltration; second settler arrested, has weapon confiscated

Two Israeli settlers opened fire using army-issued weapons in separate incidents in the West Bank over the weekend — one at an Israeli paraglider mistakenly believed to be a terrorist, and another at Palestinian homes in a refugee camp, the military said Saturday.

Additionally, a group of settlers attacked the West Bank village of Jalud Saturday morning, setting fire to electricity cables and putting down road spikes to delay the arrival of security forces, Army Radio reported.

Both settlers in the shooting incidents were part of “area defense force” units — known by its Hebrew acronym Hagmar — which are made up of local settlers in reserve duty.

According to the Israel Defense Forces, a reservist who owns a settlement farm near the community of Pnei Kedem south of Jerusalem, “identified a powered paraglider that entered the airspace of an Israeli community in eastern Gush Etzion.”

“The soldier fired at the paraglider,” the military said, adding that “no damage was caused and there were no casualties,” and that the paraglider then moved away from the area.

The IDF added that the paraglider had coordinated his flight with the military, but after taking off from the Jordan Valley area, he “deviated from the airspace assigned to him,” and was identified as hostile.

“The incident is under investigation,” the military said.

Fears of infiltration using paragliders stem from Hamas’s onslaught on October 7, 2023, when eight terrorists flew into Israel from Gaza before conducting their massacre against residents of the border communities. The image of the paragliders has become symbolic of the massacre, with anti-Israel activists frequently sporting paraglider images.

Settler arrested for firing on West Bank homes

Separately, a settler also serving in a Hagmar unit opened fire on Palestinian homes in the West Bank refugee camp of al-Arroub, north of Hebron, early Friday, before being detained by the IDF.

According to the IDF, troops launched searches in al-Arroub following reports of gunfire being carried out by an Israeli in civilian clothing.

The army said the “Israeli civilian,” later confirmed to be a reservist, had “carried out gunfire and behaved dangerously in the village area.” No injuries were reported.

The troops located the suspect, and he was “immediately detained,” the IDF said.

The army handed over the reservist to the Israel Police for questioning, and his weapon was confiscated.

“The investigation is ongoing by the relevant authorities,” the IDF said.

The military added that “this is a grave incident that does not align with IDF orders and values.”

Dozens of soldiers from Hagmar units have been dismissed for violations, including attacks on Palestinians, in recent years, that have come amid a broader wave of attacks by settler extremists on West Bank Palestinians.

Also on Saturday, some 15 settlers set fire to the electricity installation in the West Bank village of Jalud and threw rocks at a home, Army Radio report said.

No injuries were reported in the attack.

A military vehicle dispatched to the scene ran over the spikes allegedly placed by the settlers.

Troops used riot dispersal means and arrested four suspects while the remainder fled, Army Radio said.

There was no immediate comment from the IDF.

IDF Central Command chief Maj. Gen. Avi Bluth recently warned about rising settler violence, which he termed “Jewish terrorism.”

Critics accuse the government of turning a blind eye to violent attacks by settlers, which have become increasingly deadly in recent years.

The IDF has also faced criticism for often standing by while attacks unfold — with troops sometimes actively participating — or failing to prosecute those responsible.