Palestinian contractor charged with armed assault for attacking Israeli during evacuation of illegal outpost

Police prosecutors file charges against a Palestinian contractor who attacked an Israeli with a metal rod earlier this month, during brawls that broke out during the eviction of an illegal outpost.

According to law enforcement, the defendant is employed by a company hired by the Civil Administration, a Defense Ministry body that governs civilian affairs in the West Bank.

The defendant and other employees had been helping security forces evacuate a fledgling outpost, dubbed Ma’ale Tidhar, in the Gush Etzion region of the West Bank.

As employees helped remove equipment and dismantle a tent erected at the site, a group of Israeli settlers gathered to protest the outpost’s demolition, leading to clashes between the protesters and Palestinian contractors.

According to the indictment, the defendant picked up a metal rod and struck one of the protesters, a 24-year-old man, in the back of his skull during the protests. The young man was taken to the hospital and required 20 staples in his head to close the wound, police say.

The defendant was arrested at the scene by security forces and is charged today with armed assault.

ישמעאל מרים את הראש.
מחבלים ערבים שככל הנראה מועסקים על ידי המנהל האזרחי, תקפו יהודים במוטות ברזל באיזור מיצד שבגוש עציון – פצוע מטופל במקום.
תמשיכו להעסיק אותם… pic.twitter.com/W8zLwyb1dv

— Igal Malka – ???????????????????????? (@igal_malka) September 5, 2025