The Israeli military has established a unit of soldiers composed of extremist and hardcore settlers, known as Hilltop Youth, to function and operate in the occupied territories, according to a report by the Israeli +972 Magazine. It said that an investigation by +972 and Local Call revealed that more than two years ago, the Israeli military established a unit called ‘Desert Frontier’ specifically for hilltop youth settlers, who make up the vast majority of the unit’s soldiers. Hilltop youths are known to carry out violent attacks against Palestinians. ‘The military is enlisting hilltop youth settlers known for their violence toward Palestinians to serve in a unit that acts against Palestinians living in the same area,’ said the magazine. It said that it obtained evidence pointing to several incidents in which soldiers from the unit attacked Palestinians, who said that the soldiers in this unit stepped on them while handcuffed, beat them with no justification, forced them to lie in humiliating and painful positions, kicked them, went through private photos on their cell phones, and stole their money, jackets, and traditional Bedouin clothing.

Source: Palestine News & Information Agency (WAFA)