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A disturbing incident involving an Israeli military reservist and a Palestinian civilian has drawn sharp attention to the rising violence in the occupied West Bank, after video footage showed a soldier ramming an all-terrain vehicle (ATV) into a man offering namaz by the roadside.
According to the Israeli military, the individual seen in the video was an Israeli reservist whose actions were described as a “severe violation of authority”. The army said his military service has been terminated and his weapon confiscated following an initial investigation.
Video Shows ATV Hitting Praying Man
Footage circulated on social media and Palestinian news platforms shows the reservist, wearing civilian clothes with a rifle slung on his back, driving an ATV directly into a Palestinian man kneeling in prayer near the village of Deir Jarir, north of Ramallah. The impact knocks the man to the ground, after which the assailant is seen shouting and gesturing for him to leave before driving away.
The Israeli military confirmed it had received the footage and acknowledged the incident. In a brief statement, it said the reservist’s conduct was unacceptable and unrelated to any authorised operational activity.
The Palestinian man was taken to the hospital following the incident and later discharged. His father, Majdi Abu Mokho, said his son is now experiencing pain in both legs. He also alleged that the settler sprayed pepper spray on his son after hitting him, though this was not clearly visible in the video.
Abu Mokho identified the attacker as a known settler who had established an outpost near the village. He claimed the individual frequently blocks roads, grazes livestock near homes, and provokes local residents.
Israeli media reports said the reservist was arrested later on Thursday night and placed under house arrest for five days. Authorities are investigating the incident as a criminal matter. The Israeli army also revealed that the same reservist had earlier opened fire inside the village while dressed in civilian clothing, an act it termed a “serious breach” of military rules.
Spike In Settler Violence
The ATV attack occurred amid a broader surge in settler-related violence in the West Bank. On the same day, Israeli police arrested five settlers accused of throwing stones at a Palestinian home in the town of Sa’ir, north of Hebron, injuring an eight-month-old baby.
United Nations data indicates that 2025 has been one of the most violent years on record in the West Bank, with more than 750 Palestinians injured in attacks by Israeli civilians. Since October 2023, over a thousand Palestinians have been killed in the territory, mostly during security operations, while dozens of Israelis have died in Palestinian attacks.
The Israeli military said it condemns all forms of violence and stressed that soldiers are required to act in accordance with the army’s code of ethics.