In the wake of rising concerns about retaliatory actions after the terrorist incident in Huwara, IDF forces shot a young, masked Jewish individual, approximately 20 years of age, who was seen pelting stones at Palestinian vehicles at the Ma'ale Levona intersection on Route 60. Among the group of suspects present at the scene, only this individual was targeted and injured by the gunfire, even though several were involved in the stone-throwing.

The IDF spokesperson elaborated on the occurrence, "Earlier today, around 3:00 am, an IDF squad was mobilized to a location where several masked suspects were identified near Ma'ale Levona, in the northern sector of the Binyamin Brigade. A procedure for suspicious arrest was implemented during which one suspect was injured. Later, it was ascertained that the suspects were, in fact, Israeli citizens wearing masks. The wounded individual has since been moved to a hospital for further medical care. An in-depth investigation into the incident is underway."

This peculiar incident follows the tragic death of two Ashdod residents, Shay Nigarkar, 60, and his son Aviad Nir, 28. They were ruthlessly shot and killed in Huwara on a Saturday afternoon while at a local car wash.

🔹 Following the attack, settlers threw stones at Palestinian vehicles.

🔹 The IDF fired at the group of masked settlers wounding one of them.https://t.co/OXUmYUwl4y

— HonestReporting (@HonestReporting) August 20, 2023

Subsequent to the attack, substantial IDF units were deployed to the vicinity to track down the perpetrator. Key junctions in the region were cordoned off, and security cameras lining the usually busy road on Saturdays were confiscated. As per Palestinian sources, in a bid to locate the assailant and potential accomplices, Israeli forces expanded their search to the southern settlements of Nablus and also to the neighboring villages of Beta and Ewarta. The extensive search operation saw the mobilization of hundreds of troops and the deployment of drones to scour the nearby olive plantations. Units participating in the search include the elite Duvdevan squad, the 636th collection battalion, the Givati patrol, and the Marul unit, which specializes in tracing footprints.

IDF soldiers opened fire on Jews protesting the murder of Jews in the Huwara Arab village in Samaria. A Jewish protester was wounded by this IDF fire.

We are against ANY rioting, including when Jews throw rocks at Arabs!

But at anti Judicial Reform rioters no-one opened fire. https://t.co/czRwGy5XPF

— Avraham Goldstein (@AvrahamGoldste3) August 20, 2023

Senior officials were prompt in their response to the crisis. The commander of the Central Command, Colonel Yehuda Fox, was joined on-site by the commander of the Judea and Samaria division, Lt. Col. Avi Bluth, and the head of the Samaria Brigade, Lt. Col. Shimon Siso. Furthermore, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, while staying abreast of developments regarding the attack, convened top security personnel to evaluate the unfolding scenario.