Gaza: A fire that broke out near the Havat Gilad colony, constructed on the lands of Palestinian villages southwest of Nablus, quickly escalated from an incident under technical investigation to a political and media campaign by Israel's far-right. The campaign accused Palestinians of deliberate arson, using the event to justify calls for expanded colonization and harsher measures against Palestinians.
According to Palestine News and Information Agency - WAFA, prominent Israeli far-right politicians, activists, journalists, and media outlets promoted claims that Palestinians had deliberately started the fire, despite the absence of confirmed investigative findings. This narrative, disseminated through social media, television, and statements by Knesset members, shifted the discussion from factual evidence to what supporters termed "arson terrorism," linking the fire to alleged state failures in protecting Israeli colonies.
Reports by right-wing figures varied on the damage scale, with claims ranging from over 20 to 30 burned colonial housing units and a commercial facility. Despite inconsistencies in reported damages, accusations against Palestinians remained steadfast. Israeli Channel 14 and journalist Elhanan Groner cited sources like Yossi Dagan of the Samaria Regional Council, who expressed "very reasonable suspicion" of intentional arson, urging for arrests and action against what he termed "arson terrorism."
The public debate rapidly transformed, treating the fire as an established nationalist attack rather than investigating its cause. Right-wing media personalities reinforced this narrative, with television presenter Yinon Magal alleging that "Arab rioters" exploited strong winds to spread fires. His claims, presented as fact without independent evidence, were echoed by author Gadi Taub, who accused mainstream media of downplaying such incidents.
The Havat Gilad fire narrative broadened to depict it as part of an alleged pattern of Palestinians using fire to attack Israeli colonies. Some media figures advocated violent responses. Military correspondent Hillel Biton Rosen described the fire as part of "arson terrorism," suggesting severe penalties for those responsible. Although later acknowledging investigators' exploration of a potential accidental cause, Rosen did not present this as an unverified lead, further blurring fact and allegation.
An alternate explanation emerged from the Israeli website Olam Katan, reporting that investigators identified a discarded cigarette butt as the blaze's ignition point. However, this account faced criticism, with activist Yigal Malka questioning its plausibility and reinforcing the original accusation without evidence.
Senior Israeli politicians joined the debate, giving political weight to the accusations. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich framed the colonies as Israel's "front line," while Knesset member Avihai Buaron warned of a "new terrorist method" targeting colonists. According to the report, these narratives predetermined the incident's nature before investigators finalized conclusions.
The campaign assumed a political dimension as Knesset member Limor Son Har-Melech, alongside Otzma Yehudit officials, described the fire as "terrorism" and advocated for colony expansion as a response. At this stage, the incident became a broader justification for expanding Israeli colonization.
The campaign further attributed collective responsibility to Palestinians, with activist Ayelet Lash accusing media of siding with "the enemy" and Amihai Shilo sarcastically suggesting expelling Arabs as a safety measure. A WhatsApp channel linked the fire to other violent acts, advocating for expulsion as a security solution.
Right-wing channels used the fire to criticize Israeli institutions, with Torah LeHima and Lohamei HaGvaot channels accusing military and security forces of failing to protect colonists, instead targeting them over Palestinians. According to the report, the fire thus became a tool for criminalizing Palestinians and delegitimizing Israeli enforcement measures against colonists.
Despite later releases without charges, the arrests of several Palestinians were used by right-wing figures as proof supporting their accusations. Journalist Amit Segal noted the police's terminology change from suspected "arson" to "causing the fire," but the revised wording received less attention than the initial arrest announcements.
Fundraising campaigns also emerged as part of the political mobilization, with former Knesset member Michael Ben Ari and others framing donations as a political response to reinforce the colonial presence. The consequences of the campaign extended to escalating violence in the occupied West Bank, with attacks on Palestinian communities following the fire incident.
The report concludes that the Havat Gilad fire evolved from an incident under investigation to a catalyst for broader accusations against Palestinians, before investigative findings were finalized. The campaign moved from social media into reality, contributing to a climate of retaliation and escalation.