An alarming video circulating on social media shows an Israeli reservist soldier, reportedly in civilian clothing and armed, driving his vehicle into a Palestinian man who was performing his prayers by the roadside in the West Bank. The footage depicts the soldier intentionally striking the man and then shouting at him before fleeing the scene.
The Israeli military has responded by stating that the soldier’s behavior was a “severe violation of his authority” and has confiscated his weapon. The circumstances remain subject to conflicting narratives, with some Israeli media suggesting the victim had previous run-ins with the law. However, the victim’s father has identified the perpetrator as a settler with a history of aggressive encounters and provocations against local Palestinian communities. The Palestinian man involved in the ramming incident reportedly suffered no lasting injuries and was quickly discharged from medical care.
The incident adds to escalating tensions, following a separate deadly attack in northern Israel where a Palestinian perpetrator killed two people, leading to an Israeli military response and official statements vowing action against what was termed “terrorist infrastructure.”