Police have released two Palestinian suspects arrested in connection with the Havat Gilad wildfire, citing a lack of conclusive evidence linking them to the cigarette that ignited the blaze, according to reports. The investigation continues as authorities examine footage of about 150 vehicles that passed the area in the relevant timeframe.
Police have now explicitly stated that no conclusive evidence links the two Palestinian suspects to the discarded cigarette that ignited the Havat Gilad wildfire, according to reports. The statement comes after the suspects were released earlier today, as the investigation continues with authorities reviewing footage of approximately 150 vehicles that passed the area at the relevant time.
At 10:42 Jerusalem, The Zioneer reported the release of the two suspects: first as a release from detention, then with police saying the suspicion against them had weakened, and finally the military court releasing them under restrictive conditions. The sequence of reports throughout the morning reflects the rapid evolution of the case as evidence failed to solidify against the pair.
As The Zioneer reported on July 19, experts assessed that the fire in Judea and Samaria was not arson and that one case likely resulted from a discarded cigarette butt. On July 22, commentator Yosef Haddad claimed that two Palestinian police officers caused the fire, but that claim was not independently verified and does not align with the current investigative direction.
What remains open: The investigation is ongoing, with no definitive cause or culprit established. The examination of the 150 vehicles continues, and it is unclear whether any other suspects are being pursued.
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