Israeli lawmaker smashes Palestinian memorial with IDF escort

Israeli lawmaker Zvi Sukkot destroyed a Palestinian memorial in the occupied West Bank on Tuesday, August 25, 2026, while under an Israel Defense Forces escort, an act swiftly condemned by the military and politicians across the political spectrum. The incident in the village of Madama, south of Nablus, has intensified scrutiny of settler violence and political tensions ahead of national elections scheduled for October 27.

Footage of the event showed Sukkot, a member of the far-right Religious Zionist Party, using a sledgehammer to strike the Palestinian Martyrs Monument. He was accompanied by staff members who also participated in the vandalism, while IDF soldiers were present nearby. Sukkot, who chairs the Knesset Education Committee, stated he acted because the military had failed to respond to his demands to remove memorials he claimed glorified terrorists. He posted on social media that the memorial, which honored Palestinians killed in conflicts with Israel, could inspire local children to become "martyrs."

The IDF stated that Sukkot had received permission for a military-escorted tour to inspect memorials in the area but acted without authorization for the demolition....