Israel Police announced that undercover Border Police officers and IDF soldiers arrested two Palestinian suspects on suspicion of involvement in the wildfire that swept through the Samaria community of Havat Gilad. The suspects were transferred to the Judea and Samaria District Central Unit for questioning. The arrests follow unconfirmed reports that the two suspects are officers in the Palestinian Authority police force.
Israel Police on Monday morning officially confirmed the arrest of two Palestinian suspects on suspicion of involvement in the wildfire that swept through the Samaria community of Havat Gilad. The suspects were taken into custody in a joint operation by undercover Border Police officers from the Judea and Samaria district and IDF soldiers, operating under the direction of the Joint Operations Center. They were transferred to the Judea and Samaria District Central Unit for questioning. The official confirmation comes after earlier reports that the two suspects are officers in the Palestinian Authority police force.
At 10:45 Jerusalem, The Zioneer first reported that Arab media sources identified the suspects as PA police officers. Subsequent reports from the same timeframe reinforced that identification, though Israeli authorities had not yet confirmed it. The fire, which broke out near the community of Kadumim, spread rapidly to Havat Gilad, destroying dozens of structures, as reported in earlier versions of this story.
The wildfire is part of a broader pattern of arson incidents in the region. As The Zioneer reported on Sunday, police arrested two minors from Issawiya on suspicion of arson in the Jerusalem area, and earlier this week arrested three suspects for a brush fire near the Oferit base. The Havat Gilad fire also caused significant personal loss: a fundraising campaign was launched for a Givati reservist and his pregnant wife who lost their home and business in the blaze, as reported by The Zioneer on Sunday.
Despite the official confirmation of the arrests, the reports that the two suspects are officers in the Palestinian Authority police force remain unverified by Israeli authorities. The police statement did not address the suspects' affiliation, and the investigation is ongoing.
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