Palestinian Mob Lynches Two Israeli Reservists in Ramallah
Graphic killing of Israeli soldiers who entered Palestinian city by mistake shocks both societies and deepens cycle of violence.
A Palestinian mob brutally lynched two Israeli reserve soldiers in Ramallah today after they accidentally entered the Palestinian-controlled city, in one of the most savage incidents since the current violence began two weeks ago.
The soldiers, who apparently took a wrong turn while driving to their base, were detained by Palestinian police and taken to a police station. Word of their presence spread quickly, and hundreds of Palestinians surrounded the building demanding revenge for Palestinian deaths.
The mob stormed the police station, beating and stabbing the soldiers to death. In horrifying scenes captured on film, one Palestinian was photographed at a window displaying his blood-soaked hands to the cheering crowd below. The bodies were thrown from a window and further mutilated by the mob.
One corpse was dragged through the streets as Palestinians celebrated. Italian television captured the gruesome scenes before Palestinian police confiscated equipment from several news crews.
Israel responded with helicopter strikes on Palestinian targets in Ramallah and Gaza, including police stations and Arafat’s compound. Prime Minister Barak called the lynching “a cold-blooded murder” and gave Arafat an ultimatum to end the violence.
The savage killings have traumatized Israeli society, with the image of blood-soaked hands becoming a symbol of hatred. For Palestinians, Israeli air strikes on their cities mark a dangerous escalation.
The lynching represents a point of no return in the collapse of Israeli-Palestinian relations, with both societies sliding toward uncontrolled violence.