A group of Jewish hikers came under attack by dozens of Arab rioters on Friday after entering the Palestinian Authority-controlled village of Sa’ir in the eastern Gush Etzion region, apparently by mistake, prompting security forces to rush to the area and evacuate them.
The hikers were traveling through the eastern Gush Etzion area when they entered Sa’ir, where a large group of local Arabs began hurling rocks at them.
Israeli security forces were summoned to the scene and moved to rescue the hikers from the village.
According to initial reports, a local community security coordinator was among the first security personnel to reach the area. He was reportedly struck by a rock thrown by one of the attackers and responded by opening fire in self-defense.
Palestinian Arabs offered a different account of the incident, claiming that the Israelis had deliberately entered Sa’ir and started a fire in the village, sparking the confrontation.
The IDF subsequently issued a statement confirming that Israeli civilians had been injured in the rock-throwing attack and that a security official had opened fire, resulting in Palestinian casualties.
“Earlier today (Friday), IDF soldiers dispatched to the area of Sa’ir following a report of Palestinians hurling rocks towards a group of Israeli civilians who were present in the area without advanced authorization.”
“As a result of the rock hurling, Israeli civilians were injured. A security official opened fire in the area, and there are Palestinian casualties as a result of the shooting.”
The military also addressed reports of a fire at a structure in the village, saying firefighters had been dispatched to bring the blaze under control.
“In an additional report that was received regarding a structure under construction being set on fire, firefighting crews worked to extinguish the fire.”
IDF troops worked to break up the confrontation before removing the Israeli hikers from the area.
“IDF soldiers operated to disperse the confrontation and removed the Israeli civilians from the area.
“The IDF clarifies that the presence of Israeli civilians in the area without prior coordination and authorization endangers the civilians and diverts the soldiers’ efforts away from defensive and counterterrorism activities.
“At this time, officers from the Judea and Samaria District Police are at the scene with IDF soldiers, operating to collect evidence and testimonies as part of an investigation that has been launched.”
