The IDF is deploying forces ahead of the funeral of Benayahu Mellet, who was killed in this morning's deadly clash in the village of Tell, according to a military official. The official warned of an 'atmosphere' of revenge and called for measures to prevent attacks on Palestinian villages. The army's main goal for the coming hours is to maintain order in the area.
The Israeli military is deploying forces ahead of the funeral of Benayahu Mellet, 32, who was killed in this morning's violent clash in the West Bank village of Tell. The deployment is aimed at preventing reprisal attacks by settlers against Palestinians, a military official told the Intelligence Desk. The official warned of an "atmosphere" of revenge and called for preventing attacks on Palestinian villages. The army's main goal for the coming hours is to maintain order in the area.
The clash earlier today unfolded rapidly. The Zioneer first reported the altercation at 12:25 Jerusalem, citing footage of the incident. In rapid succession, the IDF confirmed the hike was uncoordinated and detailed the chain of events: a violent confrontation erupted, a Palestinian snatched a security guard's rifle and killed Mellet, and a platoon commander shot and killed the gunman. Three more Palestinians were killed and four wounded, with the circumstances of their deaths still under investigation. By 13:15, the IDF's initial analysis indicated that the clash was a spontaneous attack, and the military announced it was preparing a large-scale arrest operation in the Nablus area.
The current deployment reflects the military's concern that the incident could trigger a cycle of violence, as seen in previous such events in the West Bank. The investigation into the incident is ongoing, and the circumstances of the additional Palestinian deaths remain under review.
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