Shabbat Shooting: 14-Year-Old Shot by IDF in Midnight Outpost Raid  

An evacuation operation by the IDF at a newly established outpost in the Binyamin region late Friday night escalated into a dramatic incident involving live fire, which resulted in serious injury to a 14-year-old boy. The teen was reportedly struck by IDF gunfire and hospitalized in serious condition at Hadassah Mount Scopus Medical Center. According to settlers present at the scene, the incident began when an IDF officer arrived at the site and allegedly fired live rounds above their heads while threatening, “I’ll kill you all.”

Settlers have now released footage and firsthand testimonies refuting the army's official claims of violence, vehicular assault, choking, or stone-throwing. They say the IDF Spokesperson's version is a "blood libel," and accuse the military of failing to report the teen’s injury throughout Shabbat.

According to eyewitnesses, the event began shortly before Shabbat, when a Border Police unit that had previously cleared the outpost left. Residents, who had planned to return only after Shabbat, received reports that Arabs intended to burn the site, prompting them to return just as Shabbat entered.

At around 10:00 PM, a vehicle with its lights off entered the area. Suspecting a potential hostile intrusion, residents approached with their own vehicle. The car turned out to be a jeep belonging to the battalion commander. He reportedly got out, turned on his lights, and began firing live ammunition overhead while shouting in Hebrew for the boys to lie on the ground.

The teens reportedly raised their hands and lay down, as the commander continued to aim his weapon and laser sight at them. When one boy began filming, the commander allegedly threatened him and forcibly stopped the recording. He then began firing stun and gas grenades, with one launched directly at a car windshield, again reportedly shouting, “I’ll kill you all.”

Later, in a phone call, the commander was recorded repeating the threat unless Border Police arrived to arrest the boys.

Throughout the confrontation, settlers claim they did not use violence or resist arrest. Video footage shows one resident calming another who had been handcuffed, saying, “Don’t fight them. They want you to fight. We’ll film everything.”

As reports spread of live fire and injuries, rescue teams and nearby residents rushed to the scene but were also met with tear gas and stun grenades. The 14-year-old was treated at the scene by United Hatzalah medics and evacuated by MDA to Hadassah Hospital. In a controversial twist, police arrested the United Hatzalah medic and another resident who assisted in the evacuation; both were later released after questioning.

Despite the severe injury of a minor from IDF gunfire, the army spokesman failed to mention this critical fact in any official update or briefing throughout Shabbat.

An IDF battalion commander reported being violently attacked during the incident. The officer said the attackers, allegedly hilltop youth settlers, “choked one of the soldiers, punched me in the face, and threatened that we would not leave the area alive.”

Netanyahu stated, "I strongly condemn the acts of rioting that occurred in the Binyamin area, in which IDF soldiers were attacked. The State of Israel is a country of laws and no one can take the law into their own hands.”

UPDATE:

The 14-year-old boy who was critically wounded by IDF gunfire on Saturday night in the Binyamin area has been transferred from Hadassah Mount Scopus Hospital to Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital. He is currently receiving intensive care.

The boy sustained a gunshot wound to his arm, with the bullet entering his arm and lodging near his back. He is also suffering from shattered bones in his shoulder and arm, lung trauma caused by blast effects, and multiple shrapnel injuries.

Doctors expect him to undergo surgery tomorrow as part of ongoing treatment.