An investigation by the Israel Defense Forces into last month’s deadly clash in the West Bank village of Tell has found that the hike by Israeli settlers in the area was not coordinated with or authorized by the army, and that officers did not respond to an ensuing clash with Palestinians with sufficient manpower.

According to the probe, the military’s Samaria Regional Brigade learned of the July 24 hike the night before it took place but was unable to obtain details on the route or contact the organizers.

A military official said the hike would not have been approved anyway due to its route through areas A and B of the West Bank, including in a Palestinian village. The Israel Police was investigating the organizers of the unauthorized hike.

The hike began at 5:30 a.m., with dozens of settlers, including minors and two off-duty soldiers, setting off from Har Bracha, located in Area C of the West Bank, which is under full Israeli control.

The 1990s Oslo Accords split the West Bank into Area A, where the Palestinian Authority has security and civilian control; Area B, where Israel controls security and the PA controls civilian affairs; and Area C, where Israel controls both security and civilian matters.

The group entered Area B, briefly entered Area A — under Palestinian Authority control and off limits to Israelis — then returned to Area B as they headed toward the settlement of Havat Gilad.

IDF surveillance soldiers first spotted the Israelis walking inside Area B on the outskirts of Tell at 7:27 a.m. They dispatched a small number of troops of the 282nd Artillery Regiment’s 411th Battalion — who were stationed at an army outpost in the area — to the scene to escort the settlers out.

As the troops arrived, Palestinians hurled stones at the Israeli civilians, injuring one. The soldiers split up, with some dealing with the wounded Israeli, while a platoon commander worked alone to push back the Palestinians.

A short while later, artillery battery commander Maj. Yuval Ezra, 27, began heading to the scene, while also dispatching the security coordinator for Havat Gilad and his deputy, civil defense squad member Benayahu Mellet, 32.

The three arrived at the scene at around the same time, as the clashes on the edge of Tell between the Israelis and Palestinians spun out of control.

At around 8:16 a.m., the security coordinator and Mellet engaged in a physical confrontation........

© The Times of Israel