Initial reports suggested that the Arab who was shot and killed by soldiers on Wednesday morning had participated in an Arab riot against a group of Jews who congregated in the area to say the blessing on the sun. The ceremony had been arranged with the army beforehand.

After the ceremony began on top of a hill, Arabs from the nearby village Khirbet Tzafa began to congregate and riot. When one of the Arabs began to throw rocks at the Jews, the soldiers shot and fatally wounded him. Six other Arabs were also wounded.