The military court has released two suspects arrested in connection with the Havat Gilad wildfire under restrictive conditions, N12 reports. The investigation team is awaiting further findings and has identified additional vehicles that passed the area, which will be examined for passenger identities and security backgrounds.
The military court on Thursday released two Palestinian suspects arrested in connection with the Havat Gilad wildfire under restrictive conditions, with police citing a lack of conclusive evidence linking them to the cigarette that ignited the blaze. The investigation team is awaiting further findings and has identified additional vehicles that passed the area on the day of the fire; all vehicles will be checked for passenger identities and security backgrounds, according to N12.
The release follows a sequence of reports earlier Thursday morning. Initial reports from reporter Li Aish indicated the two suspects had been released from detention. Police subsequently stated that the suspicion against them had weakened, and later clarified that the military court had ordered their release under restrictive conditions due to insufficient evidence.
The wildfire that tore through the Samaria community of Havat Gilad on July 19 destroyed 30 buildings and left five people lightly injured. As The Zioneer reported on July 19, initial suspicions of nationalist arson were later ruled out by security assessments, and the Shin Bet withdrew from the investigation. On July 22, commentator Yosef Haddad claimed that two Palestinian police officers caused the fire, but that claim has not been independently verified.
The investigation remains ongoing. The specific cause of the fire has not been determined, and the involvement of the released suspects has not been conclusively established. Authorities continue to examine footage and vehicle records.
6 developments
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