Judea and Samaria Police rescued an IDF soldier from the West Bank town of Tarqumiyah on Wednesday night, following a report from Palestinian Authority security forces of a person in military uniform handcuffed in the center of the town. 

The soldier, a resident of southern Israel serving in the IDF, was taken to the Hebron police station.

A preliminary investigation found that the soldier was unarmed.

The incident is believed to be criminal in nature rather than nationalistic or terror-motivated.

The Military Police Criminal Investigation Division is now investigating the case.

An IDF soldier and tank operate in southern Lebanon on March 21, 2026; illustrative.
An IDF soldier and tank operate in southern Lebanon on March 21, 2026; illustrative. (credit: IDF SPOKESPERSON'S UNIT)

It is expected that the case will be transferred to the National Crime Unit - Lahav 433 for further investigation.

Recurring instances of Israelis entering West Bank Area A towns, villages

The incident follows similar reports over recent months of Israelis entering Area A of the West Bank before being rescued.

On Saturday, the IDF's Civil Administration received a report of an Israeli civilian entering Ramallah.

In February, authorities rescued an Israeli near Kalkilya.

Avi Ashkenazi and Miriam Sela-Eitam contributed to this report.