Settler teen arrested on suspicion of brutally clubbing dog in raid on Palestinian village last month

An Israeli settler clubbing a dog in the Palestinian village of Atara in the central West Bank on May 15, 2026. (Screen capture/X, used in accordance with Clause 27a of the Copyright Law)
An Israeli settler clubbing a dog in the Palestinian village of Atara in the central West Bank on May 15, 2026. (Screen capture/X, used in accordance with Clause 27a of the Copyright Law)

Police say they arrested a teen suspected of repeatedly clubbing a guard dog during a raid on the Palestinian village of Atara, near Ramallah last month.

In a statement, police say the suspect is a 16-year-old from the West Bank settlement of Ma’ale Adumim who had been on the run since the attack.

The assault on the animal came to prominence after footage was circulated on social media.

The suspect will appear in court today, where police will request an extension to his detention.

A resident of Atara told The Times of Israel last month that the dog survived the attack.

Critics accuse the government and law enforcement of turning a blind eye to violent attacks by settler extremists, which have become increasingly deadly in recent years and occur on a near-daily basis. Arrests are rare and prosecutions are even less common.

The military recorded 867 incidents of nationalistic crime and settler violence in 2025, compared to 682 incidents in 2024.

Most Popular
If you’d like to comment, join
The Times of Israel Community.
Join The Times of Israel Community
Commenting is available for paying members of The Times of Israel Community only. Please join our Community to comment and enjoy other Community benefits.
Please use the following structure: example@domain.com
Confirm Mail
Thank you! Now check your email
You are now a member of The Times of Israel Community! We sent you an email with a login link to . Once you're set up, you can start enjoying Community benefits and commenting.