Israeli police said the two Palestinians arrested in connection with the Havat Gilad wildfire are suspected of causing the fire, likely by discarding a cigarette from their vehicle on Route 55 on Saturday, according to police statements. Police emphasized that there is no established suspicion of intentional arson at this stage, and the matter remains under investigation.
At 10:12 Jerusalem, police provided additional details on the two Palestinians arrested in the Havat Gilad wildfire, stating that the fire was likely caused by a discarded cigarette from their vehicle on Route 55 on Saturday, and that there is no established suspicion of deliberate arson. The update, attributed to crime reporter Doron Kadosh, reinforces a more cautious assessment of intent, in contrast to the initial community reaction.
Just minutes earlier, at 09:52 Jerusalem, The Zioneer published a series of reports on the unfolding story. The first report confirmed the arrest of two Palestinian suspects. Simultaneously, police stated that the suspects were traveling in a vehicle from which a cigarette had apparently been thrown, and that no evidence of arson had been found. The Havat Gilad community committee, also reported at 09:52, thanked security forces and called the act terrorism, demanding the maximum penalty. The rapid sequence shows a quick evolution from initial suspicion of involvement to a more detailed, cautious police assessment.
The Havat Gilad community committee, as reported by The Zioneer, has described the fire as a terrorist act, while police investigations have so far not found evidence of intentional arson. The Zioneer has covered other arson incidents in the region, including the arrest of minors in Jerusalem, but those are not directly linked to this case.
The investigation remains ongoing. Police have not ruled out other possibilities, but the current assessment suggests the fire was accidental. The two suspects remain in custody as the inquiry continues.
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Source and signal
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