Israeli raids, settler attacks intensify across occupied West Bank

JERUSALEM/RAMALLAH – Israeli forces carried out overnight raids across several areas of the occupied West Bank while Israeli settlers launched attacks on Palestinian communities and farmland, according to Palestinian officials and local media, as tensions remained high across the territory.

Israeli forces arrested at least seven Palestinians during operations in several towns and refugee camps, Palestinian reports said, while settlers carried out attacks on homes, agricultural land and residents in multiple locations.

The reported incidents came as Israel has stepped up military operations across the West Bank alongside continuing expansion of Jewish settlements, which most of the international community considers illegal under international law, a position Israel disputes.

Palestinian media said Israeli troops detained five Palestinians in Burqa, one in Beit Sahour and another in the Qalandiya refugee camp near Jerusalem.

In several areas, Palestinian residents said settlers entered farmland under the protection of Israeli troops, damaged crops, assaulted residents and attempted to seize additional land.

In the Jabal Bir Quza area east of Qabalan, settlers reportedly entered agricultural land, forcing farmers to leave and damaging cultivated fields.

In Masafer Yatta, south of Hebron, settlers were reported to have attacked homes and property in Wadi al-Rakhim, while Palestinian residents said one family was subjected to tear gas after settlers surrounded their house.

Residents in Umm al-Khair reported settlers raising Israeli flags near Palestinian homes, while in Aqraba two Palestinian brothers were allegedly assaulted by settlers. Palestinian sources said one required hospital treatment while the other was detained by Israeli forces.

Elsewhere, settlers reportedly blocked access roads near Tubas using large rocks.

Israeli forces also maintained road closures northwest of Ramallah and continued land-levelling operations that Palestinians say are intended to facilitate settlement expansion.

Military raids were reported in areas including Nablus, Jenin, Hebron, Bethlehem, Ramallah and East Jerusalem, with troops deploying heavily inside residential neighbourhoods and carrying out searches.

In al-Mughayyir, northeast of Ramallah, Palestinian residents said Israeli forces fired tear gas and stun grenades during confrontations with local youths.

In Madama, south of Nablus, additional military vehicles and bulldozers entered the village while access roads were blocked with earth mounds.

Palestinian factions urged residents to remain on their land despite what they described as increasing pressure from both Israeli security forces and settlers.

Human rights organisations have repeatedly documented incidents in which settlers carried out attacks while Israeli forces were present. Israeli authorities have previously said security forces operate to maintain public order and investigate offences committed by all parties.

The latest operations come amid continuing violence across the occupied West Bank, where military raids, settler attacks and Palestinian assaults have all increased sharply since the outbreak of the Gaza war in October 2023.