A Palestinian man who spat on an IDF officer sitting on a bus in Israel on Sunday is in the hands of the Israel Police, the force said in a statement Monday morning.
Police said the man, a resident of the northern West Bank town of Huwara, turned himself in to Civil Administration military and police overnight, and that he was taken for questioning.
National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir touted the arrest on social media, tweeting a photo of the arrest and writing: “Zero tolerance toward those who harm IDF soldiers.”
The soldier, Cpt. Tamar Galliduani, 29, told the Ynet outlet that she is “happy that he will be questioned, and relies on the security forces and police” to properly investigate the matter and punish the culprit.
Hebrew media reports Monday evening said that the suspect had turned himself in to the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank, but police later clarified that the man, who “is known to police intelligence entities,” was still on the loose.
West Bank District Commander Moshe Pinchi warned that police will reach the suspect themselves should he decline to present himself to Israeli authorities.
“It would be better for the suspect who spat on an IDF officer in the incident that occurred in Bat Yam to turn himself in to the Judea and Samaria District… before district forces reach him,” Pinchi said in a statement.
Galliduani had been on the way to her IDF base on a bus from Tel Aviv to Ramat Gan when she moved away from a young man listening to videos in Arabic.
“At some point, I moved to another seat because I was uncomfortable hearing that music,” she recounted to the Walla news outlet.
“Then, when he got up to get off at a stop — I believe on Herzl Street in Ramat Gan — he stood next to me, spat in my face, and got off the bus,” she said.
Despite Galliduani shouting after the attack, the driver and passengers did not intervene.
“You can’t just let something like this happen and move on,” Galliduani told Walla, adding, “I feel like he spat on me just because I was in uniform. I’m disturbed by the audacity — that this can happen in the heart of the city, in broad daylight, on the way to base.”
IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir condemned the assault, calling it “a serious offense” and a “red line.”
Zamir spoke with the officer, offering his support and expressing appreciation for her “long and dedicated reserve service.”
“The assault of an officer in uniform is a red line that must be addressed and constitutes an attack on the entire IDF. I expect the law enforcement system to bring the assailant to justice,” he said.