Israeli police arrest two teenagers after assault on Palestinian amputee in West Bank

Assault near Hebron

Israeli security forces detained two teenagers after video footage emerged showing a physical assault against a disabled Palestinian man in the southern West Bank. The victim, identified as 60-year-old Said al Omur, was attacked near Hebron on 22 August 2026 while trying to pick up one of his crutches. Video published by the Palestinian Quds News Network showed an assailant striking al Omur across his back with a wooden rod while a second youth filmed the encounter. Al Omur had previously lost his right leg in 2025 after being shot by an Israeli settler. Following the attack, al Omur was admitted to a hospital to receive treatment for injuries to his back and body. He described the confrontation after encountering the youths near his property.

The settler came like a tractor. I went out and shouted at them, then he turned around, pushed me and I fell to the ground. He hit me with the pipe on the left side of my back.

Police custody and court proceedings

Israel Police announced on 23 August 2026 that both suspects were taken into custody during overnight operations following the video release. The primary suspect, a 16-year-old resident of the Avigail settlement outpost, was detained in a holding cell in Hebron to face a judicial hearing on Sunday. The second youth, a 17-year-old resident of Jerusalem who recorded the assault on his mobile phone, was placed under house arrest under restrictive conditions following questioning. Police officers also impounded an unlicensed Ranger all-terrain vehicle that the youths had operated without a driving licence. The official police announcement detailed the differing custody outcomes for the two teenagers.

At the end of their interrogation, the suspect of the attack, a 16-year-old resident of Avigail, was jailed, and his accomplice was sent to house arrest under restrictive conditions.

Historical tracking of settler violence

The beating south of Hebron occurred alongside ongoing confrontations between Israeli settlers and Palestinian communities across the West Bank. Incidents reported throughout the territory include unauthorized land incursions, livestock theft, destruction of agricultural crops, and physical assaults. According to long-term monitoring by the Israeli human rights organization Yesh Din, approximately 94% of police investigations into settler violence against Palestinians in the West Bank, excluding East Jerusalem, have been closed without charges since 2005. Lethal violence in the territory has also continued in 2026, with Israeli settlers and soldiers killing at least 87 Palestinians across the region since the start of the year.

Settlement expansion and diplomatic reactions

The incident coincided with government housing announcements under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Israel's finance minister announced plans to build 200,000 housing units east of Jerusalem, drawing formal condemnation from the European Union over the resulting obstacle to a future Palestinian state. Despite recurring violence and his previous shooting injury, local residents have stated their intention to remain in their communities. Al Omur reaffirmed his decision to stay on his land near Hebron.

No matter what happens, I will remain steadfast on my land.