Extremist settler youths destroy IDF anti-terror security system, attack soldiers as violent clashes continue

Dozens of extremist Jewish youths attacked an Israeli military headquarters near Beit El in Samaria overnight, destroying an anti-terror warning system and vandalizing several vehicles, the Israel Defense Forces announced on Monday morning.

The IDF stated that “dozens of Israeli civilians gathered at the entrance of the Binyamin Regional Brigade Headquarters. The gathering became violent and some of the civilians at the scene attacked the security forces, sprayed pepper spray at them, and vandalized military vehicles.”

The IDF also confirmed reports of a civilian who was lightly wounded during the clashes and evacuated to a hospital.

במהלך הלילה, מספר אזרחים ישראלים הציתו והשחיתו אתר ביטחוני ובו מערכות המסייעות לסיכול פיגועים ולשמירה על הביטחון במרחב חטיבת בנימין.

פגיעה באתר מהווה סכנה לבטחון התושבים.

צה״ל מגנה כל גילוי אלימות כלפי כוחות הביטחון, ומצפה מכוחות הביטחון למצות את הדין עם הישראלים הפוגעים בכוחות… pic.twitter.com/yKlVZRps6I

— צבא ההגנה לישראל (@idfonline) June 30, 2025

In a second statement, the IDF said that during the clashes, the group of settler youth “set fire and vandalized a security site containing systems that help thwart terrorist attacks and maintain security in the area of the Binyamin Regional Brigade.”

Army Radio cited a security source who said that this incident was “another glaring red line being crossed.”

“Because of the harm to the operational system that was set on fire, the security of the residents of Judea and Samaria will be harmed,” he added. Kan News reported that the system, which includes cameras and other equipment, costs millions of shekels.

The IDF emphasized that the damage “poses a danger to the safety of civilians,” adding: “The IDF condemns any act of violence against security forces and expects security forces to bring to justice Israeli civilians who harm security personnel who are carrying out their duty to protect Israeli citizens.”

The riot featured chants inciting against an IDF commander who had accidentally shot a settler youth the previous day.

“There’s a moral confusion – the main issue is not a masked teenager who may have been injured while throwing stones at soldiers, but the red line that was crossed in attacking security forces,” an IDF source told Army Radio.

The latest incident came after several days of violent clashes involving extremist groups – primarily young Israeli settlers – Palestinian civilians, and Israeli security forces.

The night before, on Saturday, a 14-year-old Israeli youth was struck by warning shots fired by an IDF reserve officer after a group of 10–20 youths began hurling rocks at his unit.

Later on Saturday night, additional civilians carried out attacks on IDF soldiers, including one incident in which a commander was assaulted and choked, and a police vehicle was vandalized with its tires slashed.

The incidents drew widespread condemnation across the political spectrum, and the soldiers involved received the full backing of the IDF brass.

The IDF announced that a preliminary investigation found the officer who fired the warning shots – one of which struck a 14-year-old boy – had likely done so unintentionally.

Three shots were reportedly fired in the air, from a low angle, at a group of masked youth throwing stones from a height.

The IDF said the entire incident was recorded on video, and that the officer only found out the rioters were Jewish when he approached them, and was told in Hebrew by one of them, “I’ll put a bullet in your head, you son of a b****.”

Initial reports suggested the bullet was rubber-tipped, as there was no exit wound, which later turned out to be inaccurate.

A senior officer from IDF Central Command told Army Radio: “Even if it turns out the bullet came from the officer’s weapon, he will receive full backing because he was under threat and acted appropriately. If someone who endangered our forces was injured, they brought it upon themselves. Anyone who throws stones at an IDF unit should understand that they may get hurt.”

Unlike previous days, the incidents on Sunday night were quickly condemned by politicians from the settler community.

National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, the chairman of the Jewish Power party who represented violent settler youth as an attorney before joining politics, declared, “Attacking the security forces, security facilities, and IDF soldiers who are our brothers, our protectors, is a red line, and must be dealt with with the utmost severity. We are brothers.”

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, chairman of the Religious Zionism party, which has been the traditional political representative of the settler community, distanced the “settlement in Judea and Samaria” from any “connection whatsoever to the type of incidents reported.”

“Criminals are criminals are criminals. Everywhere in the country,” Smotrich wrote. “Violence against IDF soldiers and beloved Israel Police personnel and the destruction of property are unacceptable and constitute crossing a red line! I call on the Israel Police to investigate the incidents thoroughly and to bring those responsible to justice.”

His party colleague and minister of Aliyah, Ofir Sofer, stated, “Whoever attacks the IDF and security systems harms the settlement, endangers human lives, and undermines Israel's unity. This is not Zionism, it is anarchy. This destruction must be stopped – now.”

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar “strongly” condemned the violence.

“Such incidents are unacceptable, and the offenders must be severely punished. The IDF and security forces work day and night to protect Israel's citizens and security. They must be supported, their activities must not be disrupted, and under no circumstances should any of them be attacked,” Sa’ar wrote on 𝕏.