“And the people of Sodom are very evil and sinful”

Today we met one of the boys who were arrested in Ratamim and released on Thursday with an indictment for trespassing.

Headline of his account: Juma’a was naked and lying on his stomach when he was shot to death.

Here are the main points he raised, especially regarding the allegedly malicious police cover-up:

We were caught in a wheat field between the settlement fence and houses—just under 100 meters from the fence—by about ten people. One of them was a member of the settlement security team in civilian clothes, and the rest were in uniform and masked. (It is unclear whether they were Yamash police officers operating in the area or soldiers.) We were stopped by gunfire in the air and told to stand still. Juma’a had already said that if we were caught, we should not try to run so that we would not be shot. Immediately after the arrest, those in uniform searched us, stripped us—including pants and underwear—and handcuffed our hands and feet behind us, with thick tape over the handcuffs. We were all forced to lie on our stomachs for the entire event.

I and the other boy were left wearing only shirts. I did not see whether Juma’a had a shirt, but I was lying at a 90-degree angle from him, and when I looked to the right, I saw that he was completely naked from the waist down.

After a few minutes, about eight more uniformed masked men arrived. The security team member asked Juma’a: “Did you come to steal a weapon or a quad bike?” Juma’a replied that he was thirsty and wanted water. Immediately afterward, the security team member, approximately 50 years old, shot him. He was lying on his stomach, made no suspicious movements, was handcuffed, and had no pocket from which he could pull a knife. I saw the spark from the gun when it was fired. The uniformed men shouted at him, “What did you do?” and called for an ambulance. I do not know how many shots were fired because shots were simultaneously fired into the air to deter Bedouin residents from the area who had gathered outside the fence. About two minutes after the shooting, the uniformed men covered the faces of the two boys with their shirts. A few minutes later, another civilian, apparently from the settlement, arrived, grabbed a club, and began hitting me on the back. A medical report after examination noted “upper back sensitivity,” but focused mainly on psychological trauma and recommended follow-up care. About fifteen minutes after the shooting, the police arrived. They removed the tape and handcuffs, replaced the face covering with a flannel shirt, and took us away. Because our eyes were covered, we do not know whether the security team and uniformed men “handled” Juma’a before the police arrived, possibly to stage a different version of events. We heard the ambulance arrive a few minutes after the police.

Regarding the police:

During questioning at Shegev Shalom station, they did not ask about the incident—only about a recent theft of sprayer cans. (Someone added that this may have been to avoid creating official evidence that could be used against the security team.) The second boy told me that he saw the police instruct Ratamim members at the station about the supposed length of the knife.

What we know:

Despite the presence of many witnesses and the ease of uncovering the truth, the police announced on Saturday morning, just hours after the event, that Juma’a Danfiri had drawn a knife and was shot in self-defense. Today we received a third confirmation from the autopsy that Juma’a was shot three times in the back of the head. It is unclear why the police reported a version that was obviously false. On Thursday, following a publication in Haaretz stating that Danfiri was shot in the back of the head, the police announced that they were investigating “to reach the truth.” The police are lying, and the proof is that even now, knowing exactly what happened, the alleged shooter remains free as if he only committed a traffic violation. Juma’a’s family is represented by attorney Avi Chimi, and Jamil, Juma’a’s father, is determined to fight until justice is served. Alongside the criminal case, he intends to file civil lawsuits against the police for the alleged cover-up and against MK Tali Gottlieb, who last week referred to him as “the father of a terrorist.” In a video message, Jamil addressed the South District police commander, Major General Amir Cohen, demanding that: “The investigation be conducted without cover-up, transferred from Shegev Shalom to Yamr South or Lahav 433, because there is a cover-up and the officers were there and saw that my son was handcuffed and without clothes. I demand justice. The shooter must be arrested because he executed my son. This was an execution. I demand that the law apply in both directions, not just one.”

Final question: What kind of society have we become in which nearly 20 witnesses saw what appeared to be an execution, and no one’s conscience is strong enough to break the silence and ensure that the alleged killer faces justice?"

Chronology of the event:

Juma’a Danfiri was an 18‑year‑old Palestinian Bedouin youth from the village of Wadi al‑Na’em/Bir Hadaj in the Negev region of southern Israel.

On 3 February 2024, Danfiri and two others were seen climbing the perimeter fence of Kibbutz Retamim in the Negev late at night. They were detained by members of a civilian security squad. According to initial statements by Israeli police and local authorities, Danfiri allegedly pulled a knife after breaking free from his restraints, and a security guard shot him. Police characterized the incident as a response to a perceived threat and said the incident was likely criminal rather than terror‑related. Danfiri was pronounced dead later at the hospital.

Danfiri’s family disputed the police account and denied that he posed a stabbing threat. They also contested how the killing was reported and claimed evidence was mishandled.

In September 2024, Israeli prosecutors initially closed the case, citing insufficient evidence of guilt.

In January 2026, the State Attorney’s Office reopened the case after an appeal by Danfiri’s family. New investigation efforts were ordered to review how the incident occurred and the evidence surrounding i