Jerusalem, 17 November, 2025 (TPS-IL) — During the day, six suspects were arrested and several security personnel were injured as Israeli security forces operated since early Monday morning to carry out the evacuation and demolition of several illegal structures in the Gush Etzion bloc. The arrests came as a result of violent opposition to the evacuation of “Tzur Misgavi”, which is located north of the town of Metzad in eastern Gush Etzion, and inhabited by 25 families and a number of boys and girls.
Tzur Misgavi is an expansion of Metzad that did not receive legal status before its establishment.
During the activity, violent disturbances developed at the site by dozens of barricaders and hundreds of rioters, which included attacking the security forces by throwing stones, hurling iron rods and various objects, as well as burning tires and vehicles.
As a result of the violence, several Border Police officers of various ranks were injured, one of whom was hit in the head by a stone thrown at him.
Gush Etzion is a bloc of towns located just south of Bethlehem, named for the German-Jewish businessman Shmuel Zvi Holzmann who helped to fund the first town there 100 years ago. Holzmann means “wood” in German and “Etzion” come from the Hebrew word for wood “Etz.” “Gush” is Hebrew for Bloc.