In brief
Israeli MP Zvi Sukkot used a sledgehammer to hit a stone memorial in Madama, a Palestinian village, in a move that drew sharp condemnations from both sides. The memorial commemorates Palestinians killed in 1968’s Battle of Karameh and the intifadas. Video footage shows soldiers present but silent as the hammer swings. Israeli leaders—including Prime Minister Netanyahu—called the act reprehensible and called for accountability. The incident comes amid a surge in settler violence that experts warn could ignite wider conflict.
Sledgehammer shock: an Israeli MP smashes a Palestinian memorial in Madama
The far‑right politician Zvi Sukkot struck a stone memorial with a sledgehammer while surrounded by IDF soldiers in the West Bank.
The monument, erected in 2008, honors Palestinians killed in the 1968 Battle of Karameh and the intifadas.
High‑definition video shows Sukkot and several others pounding the stone, while soldiers look on with muted faces. Soldiers eventually intervened to stop the group and escorted them out of the village.
Israeli leadership condemned the act. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called it “reprehensible” and highlighted the move’s impact on national security. Opposition leaders demanded accountability and decried the escalation.
The incident underscores a surge in settler attacks, a trend that analysts warn could trigger broader conflict in the region.
