Israeli press review: MP glorifies killed contractor for ‘wiping out' Gaza homes

Middle East Eye

30-05-2025

Killed contractor lauded for destroying Gaza
The Israeli army announced on Thursday that David Libi, a 19-year-old heavy equipment operator, was killed in an explosion during a military operation in the northern Gaza Strip.
Libi, from the settlement of Malachi Shalom in the occupied West Bank, was employed by the Israeli army through Libi Construction and Infrastructure, a company recently sanctioned by the UK.
Zvi Sukkot, a member of the Israeli parliament from the Religious Zionist Party, paid tribute to Libi, calling him a 'friend' and praising his role in the destruction of Palestinian homes.
'He fell bravely today fighting against the Nazis in Gaza at the age of 19,' Succot wrote on X, adding: 'With God's help, the State of Israel will avenge his blood.'
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Sukkot emphasised the importance of Libi and other heavy equipment operators in the military campaign, describing them as 'directly responsible for the greatest achievement of the war in wiping out tens of thousands of homes that endangered our fighters and changed the face of the Gaza Strip'.
He noted that while they may not receive the same recognition as pilots, 'they are among the people to whom the entire nation of Israel owes the most'.
Sukkot also highlighted that many of the operators come from settler communities.
In a separate eulogy shared in a settler group chat, Libi and others were described as sending a message to Gaza's residents: 'You have nothing to look for here anymore. The best thing for you would be to find a boat or raft and try to sail to Greece, Europe or Morocco. Because here, you have no future.'
Palestinian drivers attacked by football fans
Two Palestinian bus drivers were attacked in Jerusalem by Beitar Jerusalem fans on Thursday, following their team's defeat in the Israel State Cup final. Footage of the attack circulated online, but police have yet to arrest any suspects, according to Haaretz.
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Ahmad Karain, one of the drivers assaulted, told Haaretz that dozens of Beitar fans 'realised I was an Arab after speaking to me and suddenly began shouting 'Death to Arabs', cursing and attacking me. More and more joined in constantly'.
Beitar Jerusalem is a football club known for its association with the Israeli right wing.
According to Karain, another driver, Muhammad Sayaj, came to his aid and was also attacked.
'The police only arrived after 20 minutes, maybe even half an hour, and they rescued me from there.
'I was terrified; I feared I might not survive. This isn't the first time drivers have been attacked, but it was the most brutal incident.'
In recent years, and especially since the start of the war in Gaza, attacks on Palestinian drivers in Israel have increased.
Koach LaOvdim, a workers' union, warned of escalating violence against drivers.
'Every day brings us closer to the murder of a driver or inspector.'
Palestinian 'murdered in racist attack' by Jewish Israelis
Fouad Alyan, a resident of Beit Safafa in occupied East Jerusalem, was killed last week after allegedly being run over by a Jewish driver.
According to eyewitness accounts, Fouad and his cousin were attacked by two Israeli Jews while sitting in a public park in Jerusalem.
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Fouad's cousin, Alaa Alyan, told Haaretz: 'Someone came with a cane and started threatening us. We left the park, but they began chasing us in a car and tried to catch us.'
The two attempted to escape on Fouad's motorcycle, which was forced on to the pavement.
'The man chasing us accelerated, mounted the pavement and ran us over,' Alaa said.
Fouad was critically injured and pronounced dead at the scene, while his cousin sustained minor injuries.
Initially, the police treated the incident as a criminal matter rather than a racially motivated attack.
Relatives of Fouad told Ynet that the two 'were sitting in a public park when Jewish individuals approached and told them Arabs were not allowed there'.
They expressed their 'hope the truth will be known, and that the real story behind this murder, racism, will not be ignored'.
Family members described Fouad as 'a respectable man who had good relations with everyone who knew him' and said he was 'murdered in cold blood'.