TEL AVIV — Israeli police have launched an investigation after “very serious” video footage emerged which appeared to show Jewish wedding-goers celebrating the death by arson of a Palestinian toddler.
The video was aired on Israel's Channel 10 news, which said it was filmed three weeks ago at the wedding of a couple "very well known" to the radical right.
It appears to show a masked man stabbing a photo of 18-month old Ali Dawabsheh, who died from an arson attack on his home in the Israeli-occupied West Bank town of Duma. The footage also shows young men holding what appear to be knives and rifles in the air.
Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the "shocking pictures," saying in a statement that the video underscored the need to curb Jewish extremism.
The Samaria and Judea District Police told NBC News Thursday that an investigation is underway into whether any offenses — including incitement — had been committed.
"Very serious investigation material was collected from the video which allowed the prosecution to open a police investigation," police said in a statement.