Investigators from the Yehuda Arrow Unit of the Shi'ite District have completed an investigation into the incident of stone-throwing and Molotov cocktails thrown by Palestinian rioters from the Arab neighborhood of Tekoa at security forces.
Upon completion of the investigation, the Military Prosecution filed indictments against 11 defendants and a request to detain some of them until the end of the proceedings.
Over the course of many weeks, the police's "Arrow of Yehuda" crime fighting unit conducted an investigation and precise intelligence gathering following several incidents in which stones were thrown and Molotov cocktails were thrown at security forces operating in the area and towards Highway 60. As a result of the terrorist acts, damage was caused to IDF vehicles.
As part of the investigation, which was dubbed a "shot of encouragement," in cooperation with IDF fighters in the area, and after accurate intelligence was collected, 5 defendants, residents of the Arab Tekoa area, were arrested at the beginning of the investigation - 3 of them adults.
The defendants were transferred to the "Arrow of Judah" unit for interrogation, at the end of which they were imprisoned, and their detention was later extended in court.
As the investigation developed and additional information was gathered, eight additional suspects were arrested on two different dates, also local residents, including five minors.
Their detention was extended from time to time, and later, as part of the numerous investigative actions that were carried out, an evidentiary foundation was formed against six of them.
During the interrogation of one of the defendants in several cases of throwing stones and a Molotov cocktail at a security forces vehicle, while documenting the act and posting it on social media - the young defendant claimed in his defense: "But I didn't hurt...""
In addition, as part of numerous and varied professional investigative operations and with the aim of exhausting the entire investigation of suspects in these serious offenses, additional suspects who are local residents were arrested and interrogated. Some of them had their detention extended, but sufficient evidence was not developed to form an indictment - and they were released during the investigation of the affair.
After an evidentiary foundation was formed against 11 people involved, the investigation of the affair matured into indictments that were filed, as stated, by the Military Prosecutor's Office in court against the defendants, and a request to continue their detention until the end of the proceedings against six of them.
