Killing of Benjamin Achimeir

32°01′36″N 35°22′02″E / 32.02667°N 35.36722°E / 32.02667; 35.36722Date12 April 2024 (2024-04-12)
c. 6:30 am (UTC+3)Murder (suspected)VictimBenjamin AchimeirPerpetratorUnknown

On 12 April 2024, 14-year-old Benjamin Achimeir (Hebrew: בנימין אחימאיר, romanized: Binyamin Achimair) went missing after he left a farm near the Israeli outpost of Malachei HaShalom to go shepherding in the West Bank. The following day, his body was found by Israeli authorities who declared that he had been murdered and ruled his death as a terrorist attack. His disappearance and death sparked violent settler attacks across the West Bank, notably in al-Mughayyir, Ramallah, where armed settlers raided the village, setting cars on fire and clashing with residents. A Palestinian man was killed in the attack and at least 25 others were wounded.

Background

At least 160 illegal Israeli settlements have been built in the West Bank, housing over 700,000 Jews. They have been declared illegal by the international community, but the claim is disputed by Israel. The West Bank has been occupied by Israel since 1967. The territory saw a surge of violence since the beginning of 2023, which escalated following the outbreak of the Israel–Hamas war. According to Palestinian reports, at least 462 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank since 7 October, while at least 13 Israelis have been killed within the same period.^[1][2] Since the beginning of 2024, 19 attacks occurred toward the Jewish population in Israel and the West Bank by Palestinian militants from the West Bank.^[3][4][5]

Disappearance and discovery of body

At around 6:30 am (03:30 GMT), Achimeir left the Gal Yosef farm near the outpost of Malachei HaShalom and around 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) from the village of al-Mughayyir,^[6] to go shepherding.^[7][2] His sheep returned to the farm without him, which is when he was declared missing. His sister, Hannah, told Agence France-Presse that he was familiar with the area and often herded sheep there. The circumstances of his disappearance are currently unknown sparking fears of a kidnapping.^[8] The Israeli military (IDF) was initially unsure whether or not it was terrorism-related.^[1]

The incident sparked a massive search, during which Israeli ground, air, police, and special forces scanned the area and blocked roads. Thousands of volunteers from across the country joined to search for Achimeir. The chief of the IDF Central Command, Yehuda Fox, the head of its West Bank division, Yaakov Dolf, and Binyamin Brigade commander Liron Bitton went to the scene and led the search, according to the IDF.^[9] People with information regarding Achimair's disappearance were asked to call the Israel Police hotline or the Binyamin Police Station.^[7]

On 13 April, Achimeir's body was found in the same region he went missing by a drone operated by the 636th Combat Intelligence Collection unit of the Border Defense Corps after a 24-hour search. His personal belongings and clothes were scattered around the area of the body, and were handed over to police.^[10][11][12] His death was ruled as a terrorist attack by Israeli authorities.^[13] His body was found during an escalation of violence in the territory, where tensions have already been high.^[14]

A funeral for Achimeir was held on 14 April in the Givat Shaul neighborhood of Jerusalem, the city where he is from. Hundreds of people attended, including David Lau, Yitzhak Yosef, and Zvi Sukkot.^[15]

Investigation

Due to the possible motive of the murder, the Shin Bet took the lead in the investigation, and the organization, along with the IDF and Israel Police, were ordered by Netanyahu to conduct operations in Palestinian towns near the area of the disappearance.^[16] In a joint statement, the IDF, Shin Bet, and Israel police said that Achimeir was killed by blunt force. They attributed the killing to "one or more Palestinian terrorists".^[17]

Israel Police and IDF civil administration confiscated equipment in the Gal Yosef farm, including water hoses used to dispense drinking water for the farmers and livestock. The seizure was condemned by National Defense Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir since it occurred within the week Achimeir died. Ben-Gvir called it "terrible callousness, moral confusion, a security folly, and disrespect for the dead." He added that destroying the farm instead of constructing further farms and expanding the settlement would be "surrendering to the enemy". An Israeli defense official confirmed that there was no intention to demolish the farm.^[18]

Resulting settler violence

Following Achimeir's disappearance, Israeli settler attacks took place in nearby Palestinian villages, which escalated following the discovery of his body.^[19] At least four people were killed and dozens of Israelis and Palestinians were wounded. According to the Israeli human rights agency Yesh Din, at least ten villages came under attack.^[14][20] In response, the IDF deployed extra troops and Border Police to the area.^[21]

Al-Mughayyir

On 12 April, during midday, hundreds of Israeli settlers armed with firearms and stones stormed the village of al-Mughayyir, Ramallah, around 500 metres (1,600 ft) west of the settlement Achimair was last seen. The settlers were participating in the search for the boy. The head of the village council, Amin Abu Alia, estimated that around 1,000 to 1,200 settlers encircled the village, and around 500 entered. The settlers initially blocked the roads in the area, but then began to attack it, raiding homes and starting fires. Shots were also fired at residents, resulting in clashes. A video showed houses and vehicles in the village on fire. Around 25 people were injured in the attack, and 26-year-old Jehad Abu Alia was killed. It is unclear if his death was caused by settlers or Israeli soldiers.^[22][2]

At least eight of the wounded were struck by gunfire. 70 sheep were also reportedly stolen. At around 3:00 pm, the IDF arrived at the scene. According to Abu Alia, the soldiers did not act to prevent the attacks, and instead allowed settlers to raid homes while preventing Palestinians from moving around and blocking ambulances from reaching the injured. The Palestinian Red Crescent said 11 ambulances were dispatched, and several people were wounded by bullet fragments. According to the IDF, security forces were sent to disperse the riots, and rocks were thrown at soldiers, who then responded with live fire. It added that soldiers worked alongside Israel Border Police to remove Israeli settlers who entered the village.^[23][6]

The following day, dozens of settlers returned to the village, setting 12 houses and several cars ablaze. The Palestinian Health Ministry reported that three people were injured, one critically. Israeli forces used tear gas and rubber bullets against villagers who gathered, in an attempt to disperse them.^[14] The Palestinian Civil Emergency Service said that settlers opened fire at its workers and set one of their cars ablaze.^[24]

Abu Falah

On 13 April, at least five Palestinians were reportedly wounded after an Israeli settler attack on the village of Abu Falah, close to Ramallah.^[25]

Beitin

In Beitin, a village near Ramallah, the Palestinian Health Ministry said that 17-year-old Omar Hameed died from his wounds hours after being shot by settlers. The Palestinian Red Crescent said that at least 20 others were wounded, and a photographer for the Israeli newspaper, Yedioth Ahronoth, was also assaulted by settlers, some of whom were wearing military costumes.^[24]

Duma

At least four Palestinians were wounded when Israeli settlers raided the village of Duma. During the raid, several houses and at least 40 cars were set ablaze.^[26] Shaul Golan, an Israeli photographer and journalist for Ynet, was beaten by settlers while covering the attack. He suffered a broken hand and his equipment was destroyed.^[27] Some of the settlers were masked, while others wore military uniforms. In an interview, Golan said that he begged who he thought were soldiers to help him, but then realized that they were not soldiers and were working with the settlers.^[28]

Aqraba

According to Salah Bani Jaber, the mayor of Aqraba, Nablus, around 50 settlers attacked the town, many of them armed. The settlers assaulted and fired shots at residents, leading to two deaths. Jaber told Reuters that Israeli soldiers were present at the scene, but did not intervene and instead stood by and watched the attack. According to the Palestinian Red Crescent, the soldiers blocked ambulances from reaching the wounded. According to the IDF, soldiers were dispatched to the area and intervened to halt the clashes.^[19][29]

Reactions

Murder

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed that the assailants would be found and told Israelis to not get in the way of security forces.^[24] He also called the incident a heinous murder and a serious crime, and sent condolences to Achimeir's family and vowed to capture his murderers.^[10] The murder was also condemned by the United States Department of State, who expressed sympathy towards Achimeir's friends and family.^[30]

West Bank attacks

Israel

The settler attacks in the West Bank were criticized by Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid, who called them violent riots and urged Israel to intervene to prevent further violence.^[26]

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant warned against revenge attacks in the West Bank, saying that they would make it more difficult for Israeli forces in their mission.^[10]

Palestine

Palestinian prime minister Mohammad Mustafa condemned the attack on al-Mughayyir and urged authorities to assist the people of the village.^[22][20] He later issued a statement condemning the other attacks in the West Bank, and said that they would not discourage the Palestinian people from standing on their land.^[31]

Hamas issued a statement urging Palestinians to fight against "settler militias" on the day Achimeir's body was found.^[32]

Suleiman Dawabsha, the mayor of the village of Dufa, told AFP that the West Bank "has been in a state of war" since the day Achimeir disappeared.^[20]

International

The United States Department of State condemned the rising violence in the West Bank and encouraged Israel and the Palestinian Authority to de-escalate the situation. Spokesperson Matthew Miller said in a statement that "civilians are never legitimate targets" and called on authorities to protect all communities from harm.^[33]

The United Nations Human Rights Office released a statement calling on Israel to take immediate and concrete steps to end the escalating violence in the West Bank.^[34] United Nations Special Rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories Francesca Albanese urged the UN to deploy a "protective presence" in the area to prevent and repel attacks against civilians, saying that the IDF had proven that it is unable to do so.^[35]

The Arab League denounced the settler attacks, which it said were often perpetrated under Israeli approval and protection. It added that the attacks are "exacerbating a pervasive state of impunity and continued oppression of Palestinian lives and properties".^[36]

See also

• Palestinian political violence
• 2014 Gush Etzion kidnapping and murder
• Israeli settler violence
• Israeli incursions in the West Bank during the Israel–Hamas war

References