IDF suspends off-duty soldier after West Bank shooting at Palestinians who allegedly threw stones

An off-duty Israel Defense Forces soldier has been suspended after he opened fire toward Palestinians who, he said, had thrown stones at him near the West Bank village of Al-Mughayyir, the military said.

The soldier was detained by West Bank District Police and taken in for questioning to clarify the circumstances of the shooting, Army Radio reported Sunday, citing the IDF Spokesperson's Unit. No one was injured. The military suspended him pending the outcome of the inquiry.

According to the IDF, troops were deployed to Al-Mughayyir several times on Saturday following reports of stone-throwing between villagers and Israeli civilians. Stones were also thrown at the soldiers when they arrived, the military said.

The IDF said it received a report about the off-duty soldier's involvement in the incident, which occurred on the outskirts of Al-Mughayyir. No other IDF soldiers were present at the time, it added.

The episode unfolded against a backdrop of heightened tensions in the West Bank. Earlier Sunday, security officials warned that Hamas would likely try to advance terror plots targeting Israeli soldiers and civilians, according to the report.

While the shooting caused no injuries, it is likely to add to scrutiny of the IDF's handling of alleged misconduct by off-duty personnel and to the wider volatility in the West Bank, where clashes between Palestinians, Israeli civilians and security forces have repeatedly flared.

Boys wave Palestinian flags on top of a building in the village of Al-Mughayyir in the West Bank on September 3, 2026. Credit: Zain JAAFAR / AFP via Getty Images

Amir Bohbot contributed to this report.