Footage of undercover Israeli border police infiltrating, attacking and arresting Palestinians throwing stones has emerged from a protest in the West Bank.
The plain clothes officers, known as “mustarabeen”, were filmed by AFP journalists at a protest near the DCO checkpoint between Ramallah and the settlement of Beit El in the occupied West Bank – a popular spot for demonstrations.
More than 100 Palestinians were present at yesterday’s protest. An Israel Defence Forces (IDF) statement said some people threw stones, burned tyres and threw petrol bombs at Israeli soldiers.
watch undercover israeli soldiers dressed up as protestors brutally attacking and arresting Palestinians today..this is your democratic state of israel that In Wednesday’s footage, several men, faces covered with masks, keffiyehs and balaclavas, suddenly pulled out guns. Some fired into the air and one detonated a smoke bomb. Several protesters were held in headlocks or kicked and punched.
The move, coupled with an advance from the armed forces, caused the protesters to scatter, effectively ending the violent demonstration. The mustarabeen then cross behind the Israeli lines.
Three Palestinians were arrested during the incident, police said.
There has been widespread unrest across the West Bank and Gaza since President Donald Trump’s 6 December decision to recognise the contested city of Jerusalem as Israeli.
Four Palestinians have died in the clashes, and one Israeli soldier was seriously injured in a Jerusalem stabbing attack.
Israeli mustarabeen – or mista’arvim in Hebrew – are Arabic-speaking agents who disguise themselves as Arab to infiltrate various elements of Palestinian society.
Palestinians frequently accuse the Israeli security forces of such tactics, but it is rare for officials to comment on strategy.
“Israel has been sending undercover officers into the middle of Palestinian protests for decades,” said Gary Spedding, a cross-party consultant on Israel and the Palestinian Territories.
“It allows the Israeli military and border police to identify protesters they wish to arrest and detain. They may also use the opportunity to incite stone throwing so as to justify the use of excessive force.
“[The tactic] helps to sow distrust, confusion and is aimed at stifling dissent and protests.”
Israeli media speculated that the squad deployed to the DCO protest was from Yamas, part of the border control police.
Cogat, the Israeli military administration in the occupied West Bank, did not immediately respond to The Independent‘s request for comment.
The last high profile incident involving the mustarabeen captured on video by international media was in 2015, when an undercover soldier shot a Palestinian in the leg as he was being restrained by three soldiers.
Also on Wednesday, Israeli officials said at least 13 rockets were fired from Gaza towards Israel.
In response, Israel carried out fresh air strikes in the Strip on what it said were Hamas military facilities, and on Thursday closed two checkpoints into the territory. It is not clear when the border will reopen.