Video of Israeli soldier hurling grenade in West Bank village mosque goes viral

BEIRUT: An Israeli soldier who was viewed by millions on social media hurling a stun grenade in a village mosque in the West Bank has been reportedly suspended by the Israel Defense Forces.
In an 18-second video that went viral across thousands of social media handles, the IDF soldier was seen asking someone to film him tossing the stun grenade inside Budrus’ Grand Mosque.
The call for Fajr (sunrise) prayer can be heard in the background of the video while the soldier walks toward the mosque’s entrance. He then hurls the grenade that can be heard exploding.
Israeli media reported that the IDF had published a statement confirming the soldier’s suspension.
“This is a serious incident that goes against the values of the IDF,” the military was reported as saying in a statement.
“Upon learning of the incident, the soldier was suspended from his post. He will be thoroughly investigated and (disciplined) accordingly.”
It was assumed that the undated incident happened in Budrus village in the West Bank, based on the mosque’s name seen in the video.
Some Israeli media said that the incident happened two Fridays ago but that could not be independently verified.
The soldier is seen heading back toward the camera at the end of the video, while the call for prayer goes silent and filming finishes.
Al-Quds Al-Arabi website quoted Nasser Marar, the village’s council chairman, as saying: “The incident happened at Fajr prayer on a Friday at Budrus Grand Mosque.
“The soldier tossed the grenade during the call for prayer, shortly before worshippers started arriving at the mosque, in blatant violation of its sanctity.”
Marar added that no one had been injured in the incident.
Palestinian journalist Mohammed Abu Obeid reposted the video on X, and said: “How will the Israeli Representative to the United Nations Gilad Erdan explain this behavior?”