Three individuals were apprehended, as reported by Israeli police on Sunday morning, following the landing of two flares in proximity to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s residence in the central town of Caesarea.
The police issued a statement indicating that “three suspects were arrested overnight for their involvement in the incident” that occurred on Saturday evening. They further noted that the suspects would undergo joint interrogation with the Shin Bet internal security agency.
Additionally, the statement mentioned that a court has imposed a gag order preventing the publication of any details regarding the investigation or the identities of the suspects for a period of 30 days. The two flares landed near Netanyahu’s residence on Saturday evening, an event that Shin Bet characterized as a “serious incident,” although the Prime Minister was not present at the location at that time.
Amir Ohana, the speaker of Israel’s parliament, attributed the incident to anti-government protesters. He remarked, “The writing was on the walls, on the streets, in incendiary messages and in demonstrations,” alluding to the ongoing anti-government protests that began in early 2023.
In the nine months leading up to the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, Israel experienced widespread protests against a contentious judicial overhaul proposed by Netanyahu’s far-right government, which critics argued posed a threat to Israeli democracy.
The reforms were put on hold following the outbreak of war; however, protests against Netanyahu and his administration have persisted, along with demonstrations advocating for an agreement to secure the release of hostages in Gaza.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog denounced the incident that occurred on Saturday and cautioned against escalating violence in public spaces.
“I have recently communicated with the head of the Shin Bet and emphasized the pressing necessity to investigate and address the individuals accountable for the incident promptly,” Herzog stated in a message on X.
