Man suspected of torching hostage families’ tent after becoming ‘angered by signs,’ cops say

Police say they have arrested a man suspected of torching a tent where families of hostages held in Gaza have been sleeping as they keep vigil outside the government quarter in Jerusalem, after he was angered by social media posts showing protest signs he disagreed with.

The man, identified in court as Noah Yohanan, a 59-year-old resident of Kiryat Gat, is ordered to remain behind bars for at least five more days after police present a preliminary charge sheet. He was arrested Friday, a day after the fire, according to police.

Authorities do not say why Yohanan may have been angered by the signs, or what they said, but some media reports claim he is a backer of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, whose handling of the war and the hostage crisis has been criticized.

According to police, Yohanan went to the tent with a backpack and matches. After scoping out the area, he set a fire and then quickly made his getaway, as can be seen in security camera footage released to media outlets.

כתב אישום יוגש נגד נוח יוחנן בגין הצתת מאהל משפחות החטופים והנרצחים מול הכנסת ביום חמישי. בתיעוד מהאירוע ניתן לראות את יוחנן מגיע ברגל, מבעיר אש במתחם ובורח@VeredPelman pic.twitter.com/oxNZODk7Qy

— כאן חדשות (@kann_news) December 13, 2023

Police say formal charges are expected in the coming days.