Police Raid Wedding in Umm al-Fahm with Stun Grenades
Wedding guests in Umm al-Fahm were shocked when police unexpectedly raided the event, ordering attendees to the floor and conducting searches before leaving without making any arrests. The groom's father denied any illegal activity, while police cited suspicions of weapon use.
Footage circulated overnight between Saturday and Sunday shows an unusual raid by large police forces on a wedding in Umm al-Fahm. Officers deployed stun grenades, ordered participants to lie on the floor, and conducted searches, yet according to those present, they departed the scene without making any arrests.
The police explained that the operation was carried out due to a "suspicion of the use of weaponry during the wedding." Wedding guests expressed bewilderment, claiming that no shooting or other illegal acts had occurred. The footage shows guests lying on the floor while police officers move through the venue, with chairs overturned.
The groom's father, Mustafa al-Afan, stated:
"We were celebrating our son's joy, everyone was happy, dancing and singing. Suddenly, police forces broke in and threw grenades. They ordered everyone to lie on the ground and conducted searches. Beyond that, they broke chairs and spoke in an inappropriate manner. There was no shooting and no illegal act, but they chose to destroy the joy."
Al-Afan further questioned the necessity of the force used:
"Perhaps the police were in the neighborhood, and when they saw it was 11:00 PM and there was no shooting, they decided to ruin the celebration. What are the chairs and the hookah guilty of? They even confiscated a hookah. They did not respect the young, the adults, or the children. What do they want from us? We are looking for a little happiness and calm. Enough with the pressure on Arab localities; it is time we can breathe at weddings instead of feeling like we are at a crime scene."
The Israel Police stated:
"The activity documented in the video was carried out following a suspicion of the use of weaponry during a wedding. Accordingly, police forces acted at the scene to verify the suspicions and locate weaponry. The Israel Police will continue to act with determination and without compromise against the phenomenon of shooting at weddings."
