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Border Police officer throws stun grenade into Palestinian car, blocks driver’s exit

A Border Police officer was filmed Sunday throwing a stun grenade into a Palestinian car in East Jerusalem, forcing the door closed while the explosive goes off in the vehicle with its occupants inside.

The incident, which took place at the Qalandiya refugee camp, was being “viewed seriously” by police, which said that the officer would be suspended and a disciplinary decision would follow after a formal investigation.

In the video, which was captured by nearby security cameras, the officer can be seen in the doorway of the car, in an apparent argument with the driver.

The officer then reaches towards his belt and grabs a stun grenade, before pulling its pin and tossing it into the vehicle while forcing the door closed and preventing the driver from exiting. Another officer is seen on the other side of the car, apparently also preventing the passenger door from being opened.

The flashbang then explodes in the front seat of the car with the driver and passengers still inside, as smoke can be seen pouring out of the crack in the door.

Two passengers who were in the back of the car immediately throw open the door and escape as smoke pours out of it, but the officer blocks the door next to the driver, leaning on it to prevent him from exiting the vehicle. He then moves away after a moment to train his gun on the passengers who escaped the vehicle, and fires at them as they duck for cover behind the car with their arms raised.

The soldier then is seen walking away while cursing at the two men, who did not appear to have been injured.

The driver was apparently unharmed despite being prevented from exiting the vehicle, the Ynet news site reported.

Stun grenades contain a small amount of explosives combined with a pyrotechnic agent to produce a bright flash of light and a loud bang. While technically nonlethal, such devices can cause serious injury or even death when detonating in close proximity.

Commenting on the incident, Israel Police, which oversees the paramilitary Border Police force, said: “The attached documentation shows an officer acting in a manner that is inconsistent with procedures. Accordingly, the incident has been transferred to the Department of Internal Police Investigations for further investigation.”

Police added that the officer has been suspended from duty.

6 said injured in settler attack

Elsewhere in the West Bank, Palestinian media reported early Monday that six Palestinians were injured by settlers in the village of Umm al-Khair in the South Hebron Hills during an overnight attack.

Footage published from the scene showed Palestinians and settlers engaged in a physical confrontation, apparently in the area where Umm al-Khair and the nearby settlement of Carmel border each other.

No further details about the incident were immediately available.

Settler attacks on Palestinians take place on a daily basis in the West Bank, often with the tacit approval or active participation of IDF soldiers, including settlers tasked with protecting their own communities as part of the IDF reserves.

The attacks, which have spiked since the Hamas-led onslaught of October 7, 2023, are rarely prosecuted. However, six teenagers were indicted Friday on terror charges for allegedly attacking Palestinians in the Ramallah area earlier this month, including setting fire to a mosque with worshipers inside.


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