An Israeli reservist deliberately drove his vehicle into a Palestinian man who was praying beside a road in the occupied West Bank on Thursday, December 25, after earlier discharging his weapon in the area, according to the Israeli military. The military said it had received video evidence showing an armed individual striking a Palestinian with a vehicle. It confirmed that the person involved was a reservist whose military service has since been terminated. The army said the act was carried out in “serious violation” of his authority and that his weapon had been seized.

Israeli media reported that the reservist is currently under house arrest. The Israeli police did not immediately comment when contacted by Reuters. The Palestinian victim was taken to hospital for examination following the incident but was not seriously injured and has since returned home. Footage broadcast on Palestinian television and verified by Reuters shows a man in civilian clothing with a firearm slung over his shoulder driving an off-road vehicle into a man kneeling in prayer by the roadside.

According to United Nations data, this year has been among the most violent on record for attacks by Israeli civilians against Palestinians in the West Bank, with more than 750 Palestinians injured. Between October 7, 2023, and October 17, 2025, more than 1,000 Palestinians were killed in the West Bank, mostly during operations conducted by Israeli security forces and in some cases by settlers. During the same period, 57 Israelis were killed in Palestinian attacks. Separately, on Friday, a Palestinian attacker killed two people in northern Israel, police said.