IDF confiscates gun from reservist, suspends him from duty for taking part in settler arson attack

The IDF says it is investigating soldiers who stood by as several masked Israeli settlers, including a reservist, set fire to vehicles in a Palestinian village in the West Bank yesterday.

According to the military, troops were dispatched to the village of Shuqba, near Ramallah, following reports that several masked Israelis vandalized and set fire to several vehicles.

“When the troops arrived, some of the Israeli civilians tried to flee the area while others continued to vandalize the vehicles,” the IDF says in response to a query. A military source confirms that the troops did not detain any of the assailants as they were carrying out the attack.

חייל הגמ"ר ו-4 אזרחים ישראלים נעצרו בחשד שהציתו רכבים פלסטיניים; כוח צה"ל היה עד לאירוע, תיעד – אך לא עצר אותם@Doron_Kadosh pic.twitter.com/gLkp5rfRsS

— גלצ (@GLZRadio) May 16, 2026

Later, Border Police officers arrested four Israeli civilians and a reservist serving in one of the IDF’s so-called area defense forces, known by its Hebrew acronym Hagmar, who are suspected of participating in the attack. Israel Police announced earlier that it launched an investigation into the incident.

The reservist had his weapon confiscated, and he was also suspended from reserve duty amid the investigation.

The military says it will investigate the conduct of the troops who stood by during the attack.

Dozens of soldiers from Hagmar units, which comprise local settlers serving in reserve duty, have been dismissed for violations, including attacks on Palestinians in recent years.

In recent days, the IDF has been reducing the number of active Hagmar soldiers in the West Bank.