After fire inspectors deemed arson the cause of Saturday night’s massive fire at Gilad Farm, police released the two suspects today (Thursday) on restrictive conditions. Despite the release, security officials and Israel Police stress the investigation is in full swing, with efforts now focused on comprehensive technological and intelligence analysis.
A special investigative team has been established, deploying all advanced tools available to police. Dozens of security cameras along the route have been collected, with additional footage from various locations identified in the past 24 hours alone.
Police investigators found that around 150 vehicles traveled the route during the hours when the fire started, with more than 100 of them driving with open windows—a detail that significantly complicates the team’s efforts to pinpoint the relevant vehicle.
At this stage, the team continues its efforts with reinforced investigators and personnel analyzing all vehicles that traveled the route to locate those involved. Israel Police emphasize they will not let up until those responsible are caught and brought to justice.
Last Saturday around 2:00 p.m., initial reports came in about a massive fire raging in the area. When firefighters and rescue forces quickly arrived at the scene, an infuriating picture emerged: this wasn’t a technical failure or weather-related incident, but a deliberate, well-planned arson attack.
Terrorists from the nearby village of Jit had arrived at the location and simultaneously ignited four separate fire sources with the goal of causing maximum damage and harming human life. The official cause of the fire has not yet been released, but some sources reported the fire wasn’t caused by arson but rather by a cigarette butt that led to ignition. They added that due to strong winds, the fire spread at an unusual speed and headed directly toward Gilad Farm community.
Since then, numerous videos have emerged this week showing Arabs attempting to ignite fires near Jewish towns and communities in Judea and Samaria. According to exclusive footage obtained by Channel 14, a female terrorist is seen leaving the nearby village of Sa’ir and tampering with dry vegetation. The security officer at the outpost flew a drone to the location and captured real-time footage of her holding a burning rag and igniting one fire source after another.
Police statement: “The investigative team is currently awaiting additional forensic findings. During the time that has passed since the day of the fire, the investigative team at the Samaria District identified additional vehicles that traveled the route parallel to the interrogation of the suspects and will be reinforced with additional investigators, after more than 150 vehicles were identified traveling the route during the relevant time frame according to the findings of the fire investigators.
All vehicles will be examined individually regarding the identity of the vehicle passengers and their security background.”