Israeli undercover unit 'kidnaps Palestinian policeman'
Israeli undercover unit 'kidnaps Palestinian policeman'
An undercover Israeli unit has kidnapped a young Palestinian policeman in the town of Nabi Saleh, activists said on Sunday.
2 min read
Israel has previously used undercover units to infiltrate protests [Getty]
An undercover Israeli unit has kidnapped Ashraf al-Tamimmi, a young Palestinian policeman from the town of Nabi Saleh, west of Ramallah, on Sunday evening.
Bilal Tamimi, an activist, told The New Arab the undercover unit had entered the town in a truck used to sell vegetables and were dressed as civilians.
The unit raided Ashraf’s house and assaulted members of his family before taking him to an unknown location, according to the activist.
Both the Israeli army and the paramilitary border police maintain undercover units. During the recent escalation in the West Bank, the units have been especially active, and have been caught on camera.
In one videotaped case, undercover officers dragged a shooting suspect out of a West Bank hospital. Another time, they entered an East Jerusalem hospital to confiscate documents.
In October, a group of men posing as Palestinian protesters and mingling with rock-throwers in the West Bank were filmed suddenly drawing their weapons and arresting a protester, shooting one in the knee at point-blank range.
Palestinian protesters say the presence of undercover agents is a constant concern, and they often assign people to act as lookouts for agents provocateurs.
The Palestinians accuse the units of using excessive and even deadly force, pointing to numerous cases of Palestinians killed in arrest raids over the years.
Bilal Tamimi, an activist, told The New Arab the undercover unit had entered the town in a truck used to sell vegetables and were dressed as civilians.
The unit raided Ashraf’s house and assaulted members of his family before taking him to an unknown location, according to the activist.
Both the Israeli army and the paramilitary border police maintain undercover units. During the recent escalation in the West Bank, the units have been especially active, and have been caught on camera.
In one videotaped case, undercover officers dragged a shooting suspect out of a West Bank hospital. Another time, they entered an East Jerusalem hospital to confiscate documents.
 |
Palestinian protesters say the presence of undercover agents is a constant concern |  |
In October, a group of men posing as Palestinian protesters and mingling with rock-throwers in the West Bank were filmed suddenly drawing their weapons and arresting a protester, shooting one in the knee at point-blank range.
Palestinian protesters say the presence of undercover agents is a constant concern, and they often assign people to act as lookouts for agents provocateurs.
The Palestinians accuse the units of using excessive and even deadly force, pointing to numerous cases of Palestinians killed in arrest raids over the years.
More In News
