A serious security incident occurred on the Sabbath near the settlement of Rechelim in the Samaria region. Family members who were walking near their agricultural field close to the settlement were attacked by Hamas-affiliated troublemakers who arrived near the settlement under the guise of olive harvesters. The Samaria Council emphasizes that, according to field officers, this was not a coordinated olive harvest. The Hamas-affiliated troublemakers from the nearby village of 'Sawiyah' attacked the family members with rocks and stones, putting their lives in danger.
One of the family members, an IDF soldier stationed on the northern border, who had left for a weekend furlough, carried out defensive shooting and rescued the family from the hail of rocks and stones. In a later claim by the troublemakers, one of them was injured and killed.
Head of the Samaria Council, Yossi Dagan, arrived at the scene on the Sabbath immediately upon being informed of the incident. He was accompanied by the security officers of the Samaria Regional Council. Together with them, a thorough investigation of the event took place through continuous discussions with the field commanders, the settlement's security coordinator, and the residents who were affected by the incident.
After messages were disseminated on social media networks by the Palestinian Authority and the Hamas, alleging that settlers had opened fire during an olive harvest confrontation, with special approval from the Chief Rabbi of Samaria, Rabbi Elyakim Levanon, the head of the Samaria Council, Yossi Dagan, published a special message to the media. This message was recorded in the settlement of Rechelim to clarify the situation.
In the video, Dagan clarified that it was a family that was attacked and an IDF soldier who protected them. Dagan demanded an immediate halt to this year's olive harvest near the settlements in Judea and Samaria, which serves as a platform for terror activities.
From footage uploaded on Facebook by Hamas members, it appears that the wounded terrorist is seen lying on the ground immediately after the shooting, with a large stone next to his hand. In the same video, another terrorist is seen approaching and providing immediate assistance, holding a large stone in his hand as well.
The Hamas terrorist organization quickly issued a death notice in memory of the "martyr" who was killed. Likewise, the Palestinian terrorist movement of Fatah published a memorial notice in honor of the terrorist, referring to him as a "heroic martyr." In the announcement, alongside his photo, he is shown dressed in clothing bearing the Palestinian Authority flag. In the ad, next to his picture wearing a uniform with the PLO flag, Fatah terrorists with a ribbon on their foreheads are shown kidnapping an IDF soldier.
The head of the Samaria Regional Council, Yossi Dagan, stated in a special video message: "Shabbat shalom to everyone. This exceptional message to the media is being issued with the approval of the Chief Rabbi of Samaria, Rabbi Elyakim Levanon. For the first time in my life, I'm doing something like this. Rabbi Levanon's approval was given due to the life-threatening situation that could arise as a result of the spread of fake news and lies in the media. I am currently in Rechelim together with Samaria's security officer. We have thoroughly investigated all the factors, including the individuals present in the area. This incident is straightforward. It involves a normative and good family, a resident of the settlement, a father who is an educator, and a son who is an IDF combat soldier on furlough. They left for their orchard located adjacent to the settlement and were attacked by dozens of Hamas terrorists who pelted them with rocks and stones in an area close to their orchard. The soldier on furlough fired into the air to protect the lives of his father and younger brothers. He fired two warning shots into the air and then towards the terrorists' legs and reported it to his commander in real-time. I state clearly, the details are straightforward and clear – it's a family that was attacked, and I fully support the soldier on furlough who defended the lives of his family. At this time, during the funeral, the terrorist's family, whether he was shot or not, I don't know because they kidnapped his body, his brother is inciting the crowd with a Hamas flag and calling for the murder of Jews with Hamas slogans. Additionally, there is documented evidence from the terrorists that shows the injured terrorist lying on the ground with a large stone beside him, and another terrorist immediately arrives with a stone in his hand to assist him. I fully support the one who fired!"
Dagan demanded in the message from Rechelim to immediately halt the olive harvesting near settlements in Judea and Samaria due to their transformation into launchpads for terrorism. He called on the top military command, saying, "you would not allow Nazi terrorists from Beit Hanun to go to an uncoordinated harvest adjacent to the settlement of Be'eri in the Gaza Strip envelope under any circumstances! You also cannot allow Hamas terrorists from the village of Sa'wiyah, located within 300 meters of Rechelim, here near the community especially when it's not coordinated. I call on the top military command to immediately halt the harvesting near the settlements. For years, it has been used for plots and lies, and now it's being used for surveillance and attacking Jews and terrorism – we won't let there be a massacre here like what happened in the south. What was will not be again. I demand from the Minister of Defense and the top command to halt the harvesting; we cannot risk blood being shed here for no reason." – Dagan's words.
During the funeral of the deceased, which took place in the village of Sa'wiyah, the crowds call for killing Jews and claim that "we are all soldiers of Muhammad Daf." They urge anyone who has a weapon to bring it and kill Jews. The deceased's brother is carried on shoulders with a Hamas flag and incites to murder Jews. Upon leaving the hospital, the deceased's brother incited the crowd with shouts: "From the proud Salfit, in support of Abu Ubaidah" (Abu Ubaidah is a Hamas spokesperson). After the funeral, Israel Police's special anti-terror unit arrested the Hamas-affiliated inciter.
