An infantry battalion is being sent to the region in response to a wave of violent incidents in which Israeli residents are alleged to have attacked Palestinians, according to a Times of Israel report. The military has not released details on the battalion's specific mission or area of operations.
The Times of Israel reported Wednesday evening that the IDF has deployed an infantry battalion to Judea and Samaria to address attacks by Israeli residents on Palestinians. The report did not specify the battalion's area of operations or its exact mission.
The development follows a series of earlier IDF announcements Wednesday regarding reinforcements in the Qusra sector. At 18:22 Jerusalem, The Zioneer reported that IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir ordered the reinforcement of the Qusra sector with an additional infantry battalion after a situation assessment, and directed that all troops in Judea and Samaria receive clear guidance on conduct and rules of engagement in such incidents. Earlier, footage documented an unauthorized outpost inside the Palestinian village of Qusra that was re-established hours after the IDF evacuated it Wednesday morning, prompting Zamir to order the battalion reinforcement “to prevent the serious incidents,” according to N12. Over the course of the afternoon, multiple updates confirmed the deployment and stated that the military is working with the Israel Police and Shin Bet to restore order and apprehend those responsible.
The current deployment comes amid sustained attention to such incidents in Judea and Samaria. As The Zioneer reported in June, the Times of Israel published an investigation alleging that IDF soldiers had at times stood by or participated in attacks by Israeli residents against Palestinians — allegations the military denied.
It remains unclear whether the battalion cited by the Times of Israel is the same as the one ordered by Zamir earlier Wednesday, or constitutes an additional deployment. The exact trigger for the new report was not disclosed.
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