The IDF on Friday began investigating its forces’ actions during the Thursday night incident in the village of Jit, near Kalkilya, in which dozens of settlers burned cars and killed at least one person, N12’s news site reported.
Preliminary findings revealed that an IDF force deployed to calm the tensions in the village did not act with enough determination to prevent the settlers’ riots.
The investigation indicated that some soldiers simply stood by whereas others tried to assist the village’s residents. For example, some army forces helped evacuate a Palestinian family out of a burning house.
The riots have led to a wave of international condemnations, with the White House stating that “violent settler attacks against Palestinian civilians in the West Bank are unacceptable and must stop.”
Washington also emphasized that “Israeli authorities must take measures to protect all communities from harm, including intervening to stop violence against Palestinians and prosecuting all participants in the riots.”
Internal and international condemnation
The criticism comes as global attention focuses on the ongoing tensions in the West Bank, where settler violence has increasingly drawn international concern. The White House’s statement reflects the growing impatience in Washington with the lack of accountability for such incidents.
The IDF said that police and army units intervened and arrested one Israeli. It condemned the incident, which it said diverted security forces from other responsibilities.
The military stated that it was examining the information regarding the circumstances of the Palestinian’s death.
In response, the Prime Minister’s Office issued a statement saying that the head of the state was treating the incident with the “utmost severity.”
“Those responsible for any offense will be apprehended and tried,” it stipulated.