An IDF soldier was filmed hitting a Palestinian in the West Bank village of Idna in the Hebron Hills on Saturday, according to Army Radio.
Israeli forces were called to the area as Israeli residents of the West Bank allegedly attacked Palestinians, smashed a car window, and surrounded people who were praying in a mosque in Idna, according to Ynet citing Palestinian sources.
The IDF told Israeli media outlets that soldiers were in the area after Israeli residents reported Palestinians throwing rocks at an Israeli shepherd who had left one of his farms with his flock.
Footage showed the IDF soldier putting his knee on the Palestinian's midsection to pin him to the ground. An IDF spokesperson said that the incident is under investigation.Two civilians were also seen in the video attacking the Palestinian.
Earlier on Saturday, four Palestinians were wounded near Susya, Ynet reported, adding that the Palestinian news agency Wafa claimed that Israeli settlers had beaten Palestinians and fired shots into the air. Israeli sources did not verify this, although Ynet reported that the IDF opened an investigation into the incident.
IDF increases West Bank deployment to 26 battalions amid sharp rise in violence
These events come two weeks after The Jerusalem Post learned that the IDF increased its deployment across the West Bank to 26 battalions, adding two battalions amid a sharp escalation marked by Palestinian terrorist attacks and attacks from settlers.
The reinforcement followed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's order to increase troop deployments, additional checkpoints, and expanded counterterrorism operations following Friday’s deadly shooting near Gilad Farm. Security forces arrested more than 70 terror suspects across the West Bank the following day.
Sarah Ben-Nun contributed to this report.