Israel ends use of administrative detention for Israeli settlers in occupied West Bank
Defence Minister Israel Katz announced an end to the use of administrative detention for Israeli settlers living in the occupied West Bank. This controversial policy is predominantly used against Palestinians living in both the West Bank and in occupied East Jerusalem.
Katz’s office released a statement on Friday, saying that he met with the head of Israel’s Shin Bet, the internal security agency, earlier in the week to inform him about the move. But that same security agency had previously warned against a measure like this, saying that it would have disastrous and catastrophic consequences pertaining to settler violence against Palestinians.
The United Nations has documented at least 1,600 settler attacks since the war began in October of last year. But despite this, Israel’s right wing is embracing the move, saying they want to offer more support to those who live in illegal settlements.
As of November 2024, the Israel Prison Service says that there are nearly 3,500 people who are being held under administrative detention, seven of whom are Israeli settlers.
Israeli forces injure Palestinian man after settler attack in occupied West Bank
A Palestinian man has been shot and injured by Israeli forces following an attack carried out by Israeli settlers on Palestinian homes in the town of Beit Furik, east of Nablus, in the occupied West Bank, according to the Wafa news agency.
The Palestinian Red Crescent Society reported that its crews dealt with a 32-year-old man who was injured during the assault and was later transferred to hospital for treatment, Wafa said.
Beit Furik Mayor Hussein Hajj Muhammad said the settlers attacked homes on the outskirts of the al-Dubbat neighbourhood in the town, and residents came out to confront them, the agency reported.
The incident comes a week after settlers attacked the same area last Saturday, where they set fire to several Palestinian vehicles and agricultural areas, according to Wafa.
Israeli army arrests 15 in latest occupied West Bank raids
Israeli forces have rounded up 15 Palestinians in the occupied West Bank over the last two days, according to the Palestinian Prisoner’s Society. Some of those detained are minors and others are former prisoners, the group said.
The arrests took place in the governorates of Hebron, Tulkarem, Jenin, Qalqilya, Bethlehem and Nablus.
This brings the total number of arrests in the occupied West Bank since October 7, 2023 – during which there have been near-daily Israeli raids – to more than 11,800.
Israeli forces storm homes, conduct field interrogations in West Bank village
Israeli forces have intensified an all-day raid on the village of Kafr Abbush, located south of Tulkarem in the occupied West Bank, according to Wafa.
During their incursion, the forces stormed into dozens of homes and interrogated their inhabitants, Wafa said. They arrested two people, including a minor, according to the agency.
Since October 7, Israeli forces have carried out near-daily raids in the West Bank, often wrecking homes, roads and other infrastructure while arresting and holding Palestinians without charge.
