Following vandalism during military raid in Palestinian village of Janba, IDF chief reprimands commanders and soldiers

Following a series of violent confrontations between Israeli settlers and Palestinians in the area south of Hebron – including a military raid on the village of Janba – IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir visited the region on Sunday afternoon.

Overnight between Friday and Saturday, IDF troops launched an operation to locate weapons in the village of Janba in the southern Hebron Hills. During the operation, soldiers entered and searched a school and a clinic in the village without authorization, resulting in significant property damage. 

According to the military, during the operation, soldiers damaged equipment at the site in violation of orders and standard operating procedures. The conduct was described as inconsistent with the expected behavior of IDF personnel and the core values of the military. Additionally, the forces did not report the abnormal activity, which was only revealed from documentation distributed on the internet. 

On Sunday, IDF Central Command Chief Maj.-Gen. Avraham “Avi” Bluth concluded the investigation of the property damage during the activity in Janba. 

The investigation also found that the battalion’s combat procedures during the mission were unprofessional, and that the brigade failed in its responsibility to properly train the battalion and oversee its actions upon deployment.

“This is a serious incident that is contrary to the professional and ethical level expected of IDF soldiers in operational activities in general and in Judea and Samaria in particular,” Bluth stated. 

Bluth concluded that the IDF’s internal investigation was both thorough and critical, leading to disciplinary action against several individuals involved in the incident in Janba. The commander of the Judea Brigade received a formal command note, while the battalion commander and company commander were each issued command reprimands. One platoon commander was sentenced to seven days of confinement and dismissed from his position; another platoon commander received a detention sentence. Additionally, two soldiers directly involved in the vandalism were each sentenced to seven days of confinement.

Bluth instructed the forces to continue acting decisively and proactively to maintain security in the area. However, he also noted that the IDF is responsible for ensuring that law and order are maintained in the region and for operating with a 'zero tolerance policy' when it comes to violence and vandalism. 

In an unusual move, Zamir personally visited the scene on both Saturday and Sunday to investigate the incident, which involved Regional Defense soldiers. He delivered strong warnings to the forces regarding the growing trend of such misconduct.

Zamir, who visited the "Yehuda" Brigade with Bluth, was presented with the results of the investigation and told the soldiers that he expects them to conduct themselves according to operational norms and discipline. He also emphasized that the use of force by IDF soldiers in ways that contradict the military’s core values would not be tolerated.

In his speech to the commanders, Zamir quoted the words of the late Col. Dror Weinberg: “Military action is tested by the test of results. A commander or unit will be measured by the ability to achieve results in any way that meets a moral-ethical test. When the path is not moral-ethical, the result is not important.” 

Palestinians in Janba had initially reported that "dozens of settlers in military clothes" entered the village, attacked them, destroyed property, and stole sheep. 

Masafer Yatta Council head, Nidal Younis, said that attacks by settlers on the disputed village have increased since the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas massacre. 

"Tonight the settlers arrived at Khirbet Janba in military clothes, rioted and destroyed everything,” Younis told Ynet News. 

The villagers also said the police and military have not been helpful and that they mostly side with the settlers. 

“The police always stand by the settlers,” Osama Mahaimra, a social activist from Masafer Yatta, said. “Anyone who has been attacked by the police is the assailant. The settlers get support and protection – and we're nothing.” 

Zamir’s presence at the scene was apparently intended to underscore his commitment to preventing the recurrence of such incidents.