IDF Reviewing Soldier Conduct After MK Ofer Cassif Alleges Assault in West Bank

Hadash-Ta'al Member of Knesset Ofer Cassif has accused IDF soldiers of physically and verbally assaulting him while he attempted to enter the West Bank village of Kusra. Cassif stated that as he approached a checkpoint with his hands behind his back, a soldier threw himself to the ground and claimed to have been attacked before troops violently pushed the lawmaker back to his car. The IDF confirmed that Cassif and several civilians arrived at the village, which had been designated as a closed military zone. The military stated that the dispute concerned the entry of accompanying individuals who were not members of Knesset. The IDF further noted that Cassif arrived without prior coordination, though entry was permitted based on exceptions for MKs. The IDF has since stated that the conduct of the soldiers during the incident is being examined. The event occurred amid ongoing tensions in Kusra, where Palestinian residents reported feeling under threat from extremist settlers. The IDF is also investigating its handling of the removal of a nearby settler outpost. While a center-right source reports that Cassif claims he was assaulted, a left-leaning source frames the event as soldiers staging an assault by the lawmaker.