IDF troops beaten up in Hebron
Soldiers lose way in city during training session, attacked by dozens of Palestinians
About 15 soldiers belonging to the IDF's Kfir Unit were beaten up by Palestinian residents in Hebron after taking a wrong turn in the West Bank city.
The soldiers involved in the incident were not wearing military uniforms and were apparently unarmed when the clash ensued.
The troops were engaged in a physical education training session when they lost their way inside the city and ended up in the Palestinian section of town, after getting the wrong directions from a local Palestinian resident.
The soldiers were attacked by dozens of Palestinians in Hebron's Abu-Snina neighborhood; several troops sustained wounds in the clashes and were hospitalized as result. Three Palestinians were also hurt in the confrontation.
A local resident told Ynet that the clash ensued after Palestinians in the area suspected that the soldiers, who were wearing civilian cloths, were thieves or settlers.
"The soldiers, who we did not know were soldiers, started to shout and run away. They did not shoot or threaten," he said. "Some of them were beat up and were hit by stones yet they managed to escape while shouting."
An IDF official confirmed the details of the incident.
"The soldiers were beaten up and stones were hurled at them," he said. "They struggled with their assailants and at one point an IDF force arrived at the site and evacuated the troops."
Jewish residents in Hebron expressed great anger at the IDF in the wake of the incident.
Rightist activist Baruch Marzel, who is a resident of the city, slammed the policies ordered by the IDF's Central Command as of late.
"Senior officers who remove roadblocks, open roads to Arab traffic, and convey a message to soldiers that we have a partner lead to mishaps such as the one that took place tonight," he said.
Ali Waked contributed to the report
