Violent photos from West Bank protest go viral
Particularly violent pictures from a West Bank rally, featuring a young girl biting an IDF soldier, have received international attention.
The pictures, taken during a protest in the village of Nebi Salah, show a young girl and two other women struggling with an IDF soldier, who is holding a Palestinian boy by his arm, preventing the boy from moving.
The IDF said in response that the boy was throwing stones, and as such a decision was made to arrest him.
The Daily Mail featured the image and wrote, "With terror etched on his face, the boy is powerless to move as the gunman towers over him, with the muzzle of his weapon just inches from his cheek."
The British daily further added, "But as he pins the boy to a rock, the soldier suddenly finds himself ambushed by a young girl who forces the weapon from his grasp and bites his hand. Meanwhile, two women claw at his balaclava-clad face and drag him off the youngster. Eventually, the gunman flees the scene, leaving the young girl to cradle the terrified boy in her arms."
The Daily Mail mentioned that the circumstances of the incident were unclear, and they were unaware of what caused the soldier to "take such drastic actions."
However, they do mention that these protests often involve Palestinian youths and children throwing stones at security forces.
The IDF spokesperson has confirmed that the events occurred during a violent protest in which Palestinians threw stones at an IDF force that was set up in the area.
"The youth in the picture was seen throwing rocks, and as such a decision was made to arrest him. During the arrest, a violent provocation began which included a number of Palestinian women and children. As a result of the violent clash, a decision was made by the regional commander to cease the arrest," the IDF said in a statement.
Army officials added that: "Two additional Palestinian youths were arrested for throwing stones during the violent clashes. The soldier pictured was lightly wounded as a result of the violent actions against him."
Palestinians also threw stones at an IDF bulldozer during clashes on Friday in the village of Kadum, near Nablus.
The protests occurred a mere day after the outgoing EU envoy to the Palestinian Territories announced that 28 EU member states were advancing measures against the settlements. According to the envoy, John Gatt-Rutter, "there is support within the union to go on with the measures". Rutter added that, "There are more tools" which the Union could use against the settlements."
