A Palestinian man, accused of spitting on an Israeli soldier aboard a bus, has been arrested following a widely publicized manhunt.
The 24-year-old, from the West Bank town of Hawara, surrendered to Israeli authorities after the incident sparked significant media attention. The confrontation, captured in a viral video, shows the man spitting near a uniformed Israeli soldier on a bus traveling between Tel Aviv and Ramat Gan, before exiting the vehicle.
Israeli police claimed the suspect had entered Israel illegally and had not paid the bus fare, complicating efforts to locate him. The mayor of Ramat Gan offered a reward of 18,000 shekels (around $5,000) for information leading to his arrest.
The soldier, a 29-year-old reservist captain, told media she felt “uncomfortable” after the man played Arabic music nearby, before allegedly spitting in her direction.
Israeli officials, including National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Defense Minister Israel Katz, condemned the act, with Katz labeling the suspect a “terrorist” and demanding severe punishment. Critics argue that the rhetoric reflects an increasing criminalization of non-violent acts by Palestinians.
There were conflicting reports about whether the suspect had initially been detained by the Palestinian Authority before being handed over to Israeli forces, but this account was later denied.
The man is currently held at Ramat Gan-Bnei Brak police station and is expected to appear in court. The case has sparked wider debate over Israel’s focus on symbolic confrontations with Palestinians while international condemnation of its actions in Gaza continues to grow.