IDF Bolsters Forces in Yehudah and Shomron Following Killing of Teen

By Yoni Weiss

Confrontations erupted on Shabbos afternoon following the discovery of the body of Binyamin Achimeir, Hy”d, a teenager killed by terrorists on Friday. Achimeir had not returned with his flock to the Malachei Hashalom community and was found deceased on Shabbos. This incident triggered violence, resulting in fatalities and torched vehicles.

The IDF and Border Police intervened in the village of Duma to extract Israeli residents from the area. Nearby in Al Mughayyir, adjacent to the Malachei Hashalom community, Palestinian reports indicate that five Palestinians were wounded by gunfire during a funeral for one of the Palestinians killed in Friday’s clashes. The gunfire was allegedly from Israeli residents.

Retaliatory actions by settlers began on Friday, and escalated after Achimeir’s body was found. Clashes continued in Al Mughayyir and Duma, where additional fatalities occurred. This prompted the IDF to deploy additional forces to act as a buffer between settlers and Palestinians.

This surge in violence marks a significant uptick following a period of relative calm during Ramadan, when Israeli security services thwarted numerous attacks. However, the murder of Achimeir threatens to spark a wave of violence reminiscent of previous incidents in the region.

In response to the ongoing unrest, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu has urged all Israelis to allow security forces to operate unhindered to swiftly bring those responsible to justice. Defense Minister Yoav Gallant also stressed the importance of non-interference with security operations, cautioning that retaliatory actions could impede military efforts.