IDF detains 18 Israelis after clashes at demolition of structures near Salfit

The IDF said it detained 18 Israelis on Monday on suspicion of attacking security forces during an enforcement operation against illegal structures near the Palestinian town of Salfit in Samaria.

According to the IDF, dozens of Israelis confronted the forces, set tires on fire and set up roadblocks on several main routes in the area. The aim, the military said, was to stop troops from reaching the site. Walla reported that the blockades caused heavy traffic and disrupted drivers and residents across the region.

The structures stood in an area declared a closed military zone by order. Security forces had come to carry out repeat enforcement there. The IDF said violent and illegal acts had been launched from the compound on several earlier occasions. Israel Hayom reported the military's statement that violent actions "came out of the structures," in a Hebrew-language translation.

Dozens of people were physically and verbally violent toward the forces, the IDF said. Troops tried to avoid physical clashes but had to deal with the resistance, according to the account Walla relayed. The military did not say whether any soldiers or civilians were hurt.

Security forces cleared the roadblocks and finished the operation. The illegal structures were demolished, Israel Hayom reported.

Several vehicles were seized. In one of them, forces found flammable materials, assault tools and pepper spray, Walla reported. The 18 suspects were taken for questioning by Israel Police's Judea and Samaria District.

The IDF's statement does not identify the detainees. It does not say what charges may follow, or how long they will be held.

Background

Salfit is a Palestinian town in the northern West Bank. Much of the West Bank outside Palestinian cities is under IDF control. The IDF's Central Command can declare areas closed military zones, and building there without permits is illegal under the military's orders. Israeli police investigate Israeli civilians suspected of offences in the territory.

Clashes between Israeli civilians and troops during demolitions of unauthorised outposts have recurred in recent years. Attacks on soldiers are a criminal offence, and military and political leaders across the spectrum have condemned them. Settler groups say enforcement against their outposts is selective and unfair, while others note that the outposts break the law.