Israeli mother and son narrowly escape attempted lynching in Jenin

A West Bank resident and her son narrowly escaped an attack Thursday after their navigation app mistakenly directed them into Jenin while they were driving to meet friends in Afula.

Caught in traffic, the pair realized they had been routed into the city. When vehicles began moving, dozens of people surrounded their car, attempting to open the doors, throwing stones, and trying to stop the vehicle. The mother described the incident: "I realized that Waze had taken us to Jenin. Dozens of Arabs tried to open the doors, threw stones at us and tried to stop us." During the assault, they contacted the Samaria Regional Council security hotline for guidance. "I drove as fast as I could and managed to get out of there with my son," The mother said. Both escaped without injury, though their vehicle was heavily damaged.

Samaria Regional Council head Yossi Dagan responded to the incident, stating: "This is a serious attempted lynching that once again illustrates the inconceivable reality. We must strike at the head of the terrorist snake in Jenin itself and hit the Palestinian Authority's terror infrastructure. This incident could never have happened without the Palestinian Authority's incitement."

The IDF Spokesperson's Unit confirmed the events in a statement, noting that two Israeli civilians mistakenly entered Jenin and were attacked by individuals who threw a brick at their vehicle. The vehicle was damaged but there were no casualties. The civilians subsequently met an IDF force at the Gilboa crossing. The statement added that IDF forces launched operations and arrests of wanted suspects in the area, and noted that entry into Area A is prohibited and dangerous for Israelis.