Israeli Forces, Settlers Escalate West Bank Raids and Attacks
Israeli forces continued raids and arrests across the West Bank on Saturday, coinciding with settler attacks on Palestinians and their property amid ongoing escalation. Early Saturday, Israeli troops entered the towns of Al-Nazla Al-Sharqiya and Qaffin, north of Tulkarm, conducting searches without reported arrests, according to local sources. In Bethlehem Governorate, forces raided the towns of Teqoa and Beit Fajjar, while six Palestinians were arrested in Qabatiya, south of Jenin. These arrests followed an Israeli military announcement of detaining five Palestinians from Qabatiya, claiming they were part of a cell planning attacks. On Friday, Israeli forces seized approximately 7.5 dunams of land in Qabatiya.
Concurrently, settler violence targeted Palestinian homes and lands in Bethlehem, Ramallah, Nablus, and the Jordan Valley. On Friday evening, Palestinians were injured in an attack by Israeli forces and settlers on a home near Bethlehem. Settlers also attacked Palestinians in Khirbet Al-Hamma in the Northern Jordan Valley and erected a settlement tent, attacking a home in the village of Umm Safa, north of Ramallah.
The escalation in Nablus Governorate followed a nearly 48-hour Israeli military operation in the city, its refugee camp, and surrounding areas. The Israeli military stated it arrested over ten Palestinians and destroyed more than 30 lathes allegedly used for manufacturing weapons. Palestinian sources reported large forces raided Askar camp, searched homes, and conducted field interrogations.
In Qusra, south of Nablus, three Palestinian families remain under siege in the Ras Al-Ain area for weeks, with the Israeli army preventing access for solidarity activists and locals. Settlers are reportedly attempting to seize control of the area. The mayor of Qusra stated the army established gates and checkpoints hindering access and preventing food and medicine from reaching the families, declaring the area a closed military zone.
These developments coincide with accelerated land confiscation and settlement expansion. Amnesty International reported on Thursday that Israeli authorities are intensifying annexation measures through land seizure orders, including in Area A, which is under Palestinian administrative control. The Israeli organization Peace Now noted this is the first time since the Oslo Accords that military orders have been issued for land seizure in Area A for civilian settlement purposes, not stated security reasons.
