Six Jewish Suspects Arrested in Connection with Death of Palestinian Teenager, Reports Reuters

By Jeffrey Heller

JERUSALEM – Israeli authorities have detained six Jewish suspects in connection with the abduction and murder of a Palestinian teenager, an incident that ignited violent protests in Jerusalem and various Israeli Arab communities, a security source reported on Sunday.

Tensions in the region remain high, particularly along the Gaza border, where Israeli airstrikes have killed two Palestinian militants and wounded another in response to rocket fire targeting southern Israeli towns. Hospital officials confirmed the fatalities, and the Israeli military acknowledged targeting central Gaza.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu indicated that a broader military operation was not currently in the works.

The brutal murder of 16-year-old Mohammed Abu Khudair, paired with the earlier abductions and killings of three Israeli teenagers, has brought Israeli-Palestinian relations to a perilous low since U.S.-facilitated peace negotiations stalled in April.

Details regarding the arrested suspects have not been disclosed, but the police noted a presence of “nationalist motives” in the case. Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld confirmed that an order has been enacted to prevent the release of further case specifics, only mentioning that some Jewish individuals were apprehended with suspicion of involvement in the killing.

Israel’s Shin Bet security agency reported that the suspects are being interrogated at one of its facilities. Despite the gag order, Israeli media has stated that a court has ordered the suspects to be held in custody for eight days. Some reports suggest that the suspects, characterized as far-right extremists, include minors and are from Jerusalem and a nearby settlement.

Abu Khudair’s burned body was found in a forest in Jerusalem on Wednesday. Palestinians suspect that he was targeted by far-right Jews seeking revenge for the murder of the three Israeli teens who went missing on June 12 while hitchhiking in the occupied West Bank, with their bodies discovered on June 30.

Israel attributes the responsibility for the deaths of Naftali Fraenkel and Gil-Ad Shaer, both 16, as well as 19-year-old Eyal Yifrah, to the Hamas organization. The violence escalated in mid-June during Israel’s efforts to locate the missing teenagers, which led to the arrest of several Hamas members.

Hamas has not confirmed nor denied any involvement in the killings of the Israeli youths.

During a visit to the Fraenkel family, Netanyahu urged Palestinian leaders to exert all efforts to locate the suspects responsible for the deaths of the young Israelis. He emphasized that the Palestinian self-governing authorities in the West Bank must take steps just as Israeli security forces quickly apprehended suspects in Abu Khudair’s murder.

An autopsy that included a Palestinian pathologist revealed soot in the teenager’s lungs, suggesting he was alive when he was set on fire, as stated by the Palestinian attorney general.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has called for an international investigation into what he termed “terror crimes” committed against Palestinians, including the murder of Abu Khudair.

Netanyahu assured that those responsible for the killing would face severe legal consequences, asserting that Israeli society has no tolerance for such acts. He also condemned violent protests among some Israeli Arabs in northern Israel.

In the Galilee region, where a majority of Israel’s Arab citizens reside, protests continued for a third day, leading to clashes with passing vehicles. Reports indicated that two Palestinians from the West Bank had died in an accident, inciting further grievances in the surrounding Arab communities.

Israeli police prepared for potential unrest by deploying riot control units near various Arab towns. Observers noted an increased police presence, including vans, water cannon trucks, and officers equipped with shields, outside hotspots in the Haifa area.

In remarks to his Cabinet, Netanyahu emphasized the need to restore calm in southern Israeli communities under attack from Gaza and underscored the importance of a measured approach to avoid provoking a larger conflict with Hamas, known for its significant arsenal.

On Sunday, over 20 rockets launched from Gaza struck Israeli territory, though no injuries were reported.

Increasing military forces along the Gaza border since Thursday has been interpreted as a warning to Palestinian militants that a ground invasion could be on the table if rocket assaults persist.

The two militants who were killed, as well as one wounded during the air strikes, were affiliated with an armed faction of the Fatah party, residents and medical personnel confirmed. Their deaths have raised the toll to five Palestinian casualties in Gaza from Israeli airstrikes conducted since mid-June.

Meanwhile, Tariq Khdeir, a 15-year-old Palestinian-American and cousin of Abu Khudair, was arrested by Israeli border police during a protest and reportedly suffered severe abuse in custody. An Israeli court has placed him under house arrest for nine days.

His family plans to return to Florida, and the U.S. State Department has expressed concern over his treatment, condemning any excessive use of force and calling for a quick, transparent investigation. Israel’s Justice Ministry has stated that its internal affairs unit is examining the incident.