Israeli forces raided the Jerusalem home of a Hamas member released as part of an exchange with Israeli hostages in Gaza, detained one person Saturday night, and interviewed at the scene. He assaulted others, including a New York Times reporter.
A squad of soldiers broke into a house on the outskirts of Jerusalem, disrupting an event commemorating the early release of Hamas member Ashraf Zugaier, who was imprisoned in 2002 for driving terrorists to the attack site. Among them was a suicide bomber who blew up a bus, killing six civilians. According to court documents, Zugaier admitted to the charges.
Zugaier, 46, was released on Saturday afternoon along with 199 other prisoners.
Under the supervision of a colonel, the soldiers armed with rifles entered the Zugaier family building and assaulted several people, including Zugaier's father and a Times reporter who was interviewing him. The soldiers detained Zugaier's brother, expelled journalists and left about an hour later.
Israeli security services have long blocked and often dispersed family-friendly events celebrating the release of Palestinian militants, arguing that they cause unrest, pander to terrorists and incite support for violence. Critics say the intervention will heighten Palestinian antipathy toward Israel and prolong the cycle of violence.
Israel has been particularly active in suppressing celebrations for detainees released under ceasefire terms in the Gaza Strip. Israeli officials fear it could boost the popularity of Hamas, which led the Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel that killed up to 1,200 people. For that reason, dozens of Palestinians freed on Saturday were not allowed to return home and went into exile in Egypt.
The Israeli army said in a statement that it raided the Zugaier family's home after “receiving information and videos regarding shootings and incitement to terrorism in the area.” The statement said soldiers acted to “neutralize the fire threat” and raised their weapons against “armed individuals.” Israeli military officials said the brothers were detained on charges of displaying the Hamas flag.
Footage circulating on social media earlier in the day showed Zugaier wearing a Hamas scarf and parading through a neighborhood in a car, surrounded by a group of other men carrying Hamas flags. However, this practice is prohibited in Israel.
By the time New York Times reporters arrived in the neighborhood several hours later, the situation had calmed down. About an hour before the attack, they saw Mr Zugaier briefly wearing a thin Hamas scarf before the child fled with it. A second child, wearing a cloak emblazoned with the Hamas logo, also left the house around the same time.
About 24 other participants, including several young children, were wearing unmarked clothing and no flags were displayed. Reporters said no one was armed and Zugaier's brother was not carrying a Hamas flag.
The house is owned by Zugaier's father, Munir Zugaier, a well-known community organizer. Munir Zugaier acts as an intermediary between residents of impoverished neighborhoods and Jerusalem's city leadership, and between the families of Palestinians in prison and Israeli prison authorities. He said he was not a member of Hamas.
Reporters said the soldiers stormed the family's compound around 5:30 p.m. and moved through the garden where the rally was being held, without stopping to check on the situation or the people inside.
One soldier immediately used the muzzle of a loaded rifle to attack Times reporter Aaron Boxerman, who happened to be standing near the entrance to the garden. Before Mr Boxerman could identify himself, the soldier punched him in the ribcage, leaving a large bruise.
A second Times reporter, Nathan Odenheimer, identified himself as a journalist, according to a video recorded by the Times. The same soldier told Mr. Odenheimer that he didn't care, using epithets to emphasize his points. The soldier pointed the loaded rifle at Mr. Odenheimer again, according to the video.
The soldiers also pointed their rifles at other protesters. Video shows the participants quickly following soldiers' orders and posing no threat. The soldiers shouted profanities at Mr Zugaier's relatives. Then he shoved his father in the chest.
In a statement, the military said it regretted “any harm caused to journalists during the operation” and had no intention of targeting “non-involved civilians or journalists themselves.” it said It was investigating the incident.
A spokesperson for The Times said it had lodged a complaint with the Israeli military over the assault on Boxerman.
