Unit of IDF settler reservists hampered police probe into arson attack on Palestinian village — report

An IDF unit of settler reservists hampered an investigation into an arson attack by fellow settlers who targeted a Palestinian village in the West Bank over the weekend, the Kan public broadcaster reveals.

Overnight Sunday-Monday, a group of settlers raided the northern West Bank Palestinian village of Beit Furik near Nablus and torched a residential home.

In order to launch an investigation into the incident, police reached out to the local regional defense reserve unit, known as the Hagmar, so that the soldiers could secure the town during the officers’ visit.

However, the Hagmar unit refused to cooperate with the request, Kan says.

לוחמי מילואים סירבו לאבטח שוטרים שחקרו הצתת בית באזור שכם בידי פורעים יהודים; צה"ל: האירוע יטופל משמעתית | פרסום ראשון של @roysharon11 #מהדורתכאןחדשות עם @TaliMoreno_ pic.twitter.com/InsKxF9IN9

— כאן חדשות (@kann_news) July 27, 2026

Police had to find a different military unit to secure the police officer’s entry, which then did so without issue.

The IDF doesn’t deny what was reported, telling Kan that the incident is being probed and that disciplinary actions will be taken.

The incident highlights the difficulty Israel has had in cracking down on rampant settler violence.

Members of the Hagmar units in the West Bank have regularly been accused https://www.timesofisrael.com/empowered-after-oct-7-idf-settler-units-are-terrorizing-palestinians-critics-say/ of taking part in attacks against Palestinians.

The former commander of the police’s West Bank division is under investigation for ignoring settler violence in order to curry favor in the eyes of National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir.