The Israel Defense Forces said on Thursday that it had located a group of Israelis who lost contact for several hours after entering a village under Palestinian Authority control in Samaria.
“Following searches and a joint multi-agency intelligence effort by the Israeli security forces in the area of Mukhmas, all of the civilians were located, and the concern of a security incident was ruled out,” the military stated.
Earlier on Thursday, security personnel were dispatched to the area after receiving a report that several Israeli civilians who had entered the Arab village had lost contact.
The group consisted of ultra-Orthodox Jews who apparently entered Mukhmas to pray at graves of tzadikim (“righteous Jews”) in the area, according to Hebrew media reports.
However, the Israel Police said it had opened an investigation after the suspects allegedly fled into Mukhmas after committing a “serious traffic violation” on the nearby Route 60 highway.
“The Israel Police, together with all security agencies, views with utmost seriousness any entry by Israeli civilians into Area A [of Judea and Samaria], which unnecessarily endangers their lives, and will investigate this incident, which occurred early this morning, accordingly,” the statement said.
Areas A, B, and C are three administrative zones in Judea and Samaria established with the Oslo Accords. Area A is under P.A. civil and security control. Area B is governed by the Palestinians but has joint Israeli-P.A. security. Area C, roughly 60% of the territory, is under full Israeli control.
Under Israeli law, it is generally illegal for Israelis to enter Area A without authorization, and large red signs warning Israelis not to enter these areas have dotted the entrances to Palestinian Authority-controlled villages across Judea and Samaria.
