In a tense operation that began at dawn on Wednesday, Israeli security forces moved to evacuate Givat Tzur, an unauthorized outpost in the West Bank, sparking confrontations with settlers.
As reported by Kikar Shabbos, more than 500 Border Police officers and Civil Administration personnel descended on the hilltop to dismantle structures erected over the past year. The outpost, named after Harel Sharvit, a soldier who fell in combat in Gaza, had become a flashpoint in the debate over settlement expansion. Settlers accused Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, known for his pro-settlement stance, of failing to prevent the evacuation.
As bulldozers approached, dozens of activists attempted to block security forces, creating barricades of burning tires. Some barricaded themselves inside buildings, while others engaged in direct confrontation. Settlers reported the use of stun grenades, pepper spray, and rubber bullets by security forces, while officials cited instances of stone-throwing and the torching of a vehicle by protestors.
In the days leading up to the operation, authorities took preventive measures, including issuing a three-month restraining order against Yedidya Wasertel, one of the outpost's founders, barring him from entering Judea and Samaria.
Settlers expressed their frustration, stating, "At a time when our soldiers are dying in battles, the right-wing government has chosen to harm and destroy structures in Israel." They called the action "a disgrace and an unforgivable crime," urging the government to "wake up and stop harming the settlers of the land."