Security Forces Arrest 20 Palestinians Following Khusra Attacks

Jerusalem, 7 December, 2017 (TPS) -- Security forces arrested 20 Palestinians, 18 adults and two minors in raids overnight around the village of Khusra in Samaria on suspicion of involvement in attacking a group of Jewish hikers on November 30 and participating in subsequent violent disturbances in and around the village, in which rocks were thrown at civilians and IDF forces.

On November 30, a group of Jewish children on a bar mitzvah hike were attacked by several dozen Palestinians from Khusra who threw rocks at them and also stole mobile phones and wallets from members of the group. During the incident, an armed adult accompanying the group opened fire killing a Palestinian man. The initial results of an IDF investigation found that the man had acted in self-defense. Police are also investigating the incident.

A few days later, dozens of Palestinian rioters threw rocks at small group of settlers led by right-wing activist Baruch Marzel, one of the leaders of the Otzma Yehudit (Jewish Strength) party, who were hiking in the same region as a “show of strength.”

During the second incident, a Palestinian man was reported to have suffered moderate to serious injuries when IDF troops securing the group opened fire after the Palestinians rolled boulders at the group.

The same evening, dozens of Palestinians threw rocks at cars outside a junction on the outskirts of Khusra that also leads to the nearby Jewish community of Migdalim.  

In a joint operation between the police and IDF, personal belonging taken from the children who participated in the first hike were recovered. Police said they had used advanced technological means, to identify the suspects.