Palestinian spitting suspect ordered kept in custody until Thursday; says he wasn’t in Israel at the time

The Tel Aviv Magistrate’s court has extended the detention of a Palestinian man who allegedly spat on a female IDF soldier and ordered him held until Thursday, a law enforcement spokesman says.

Ahmad Muhammad, a resident of the northern West Bank town of Huwara, is accused of spitting in the face of a soldier yesterday morning while on a bus to Ramat Gan, then quickly alighting.

He turned himself in to West Bank District police later last night.

Police say that Muhammad was in Israel illegally.

He denies responsibility and says he is a victim of mistaken identity.

The suspect claims to have been in Palestinian Authority-administered territory at the time the incident occurred, Ynet reports, and insists there is “forensic evidence” backing him up.

National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir touted his arrest on social media, tweeting a photo of the detainee and writing: “Zero tolerance toward those who harm IDF soldiers.”