HUWARA — Uriah Cohen, a 38-year-old resident of Yitzhar, was indicted on Thursday, June 25, 2026, by Israeli prosecutors in connection with an incident that occurred on June 6, 2026, in Huwara. He faces charges including firing a weapon in a residential area in a manner endangering life, threats, reckless and negligent acts, obstruction of justice, and being an accessory after the fact.

Prosecutors alleged that on June 6, Cohen drove into Huwara with an unidentified masked man, both armed with assault rifles, around 10:37 a.m. The indictment states that Cohen swerved into the path of a Hyundai Tucson with Palestinian registration, causing the vehicle to collide with his car. Cohen and the masked man then allegedly exited their vehicles, ordered the occupants of the Hyundai to leave, and pointed their weapons at the vehicle.

The indictment alleges that Cohen fired his weapon into the air, and as the Hyundai fled, the masked man fired toward it. Prosecutors stated that detention is requested until the end of proceedings. The prosecution also stated that Cohen acknowledged being at the scene and identified himself in security footage, but did not identify the masked man or others present, and gave contradictory explanations for stopping the first vehicle.

The indictment details that Yakir, a co-owner of a flock, arrived at the scene on a quad bike with an unidentified passenger wearing military attire. This group, along with others on foot, allegedly approached a second Hyundai carrying two Huwara residents, ordered them out, then pulled them from the vehicle and beat them with fists, a club, and a rifle butt. One victim sustained bleeding in the brain, fractures around his right eye and cheek, and facial cuts, requiring hospitalization in intensive care, while the second victim was also injured, with both left on the road.

Prosecutors allege that Cohen collected shell casings from the road after the incident. The indictment states that Cohen pulled the helmeted passenger away while that individual was punching one of the victims. The masked man and the helmeted passenger then entered Cohen's car, and Cohen drove them away, passing the two injured individuals.

Why It Matters

This indictment proceeds following an incident initiated by sheep escaping from Tzafnat Farm, an agricultural outpost near Tapuah Junction. Tzafnat was listed in an April Peace Now analysis as one of the West Bank outposts potentially awaiting retroactive authorization based on reports of a March 25 Security Cabinet decision. The state possesses security-camera footage, a bystander’s phone recording, testimony from soldiers, medical records, and victim statements relevant to the case. Footage reportedly shows Cohen stopping the first vehicle, retrieving something from the roadway, intervening with one of the assailants, and then leaving the scene with the masked and helmeted individuals.