Israeli military may deploy tanks to occupied West Bank
The Israeli army may deploy tanks to the northern occupied West Bank for the first time in 23 years, an Israeli media outlet reports.
According to Channel 14, citing anonymous sources, the political leadership is “pressuring for the inclusion of tanks in the ongoing military operation in the northern West Bank”.
The tanks “could soon participate in the military operation”, the sources indicated.
The move comes during an escalating Israeli attack across several northern West Bank governorates, particularly targeting Palestinian refugee camps for the 34th day in a row.
Israeli forces storm occupied West Bank town near Nablus
Several residents of Qusra, a town south of Nablus, have suffered breathing problems after Israeli forces stormed the area, Wafa news agency reports.
Antisettlement activist Fouad Hassan told Wafa that the Israeli army opened fire and shelled the area with tear gas.
Footage shows Israeli settlers attacking East Jerusalem town
Palestine TV reports Israelis from illegal settlements attacked residents in the fields of Jaba. Footage shared by local platforms, and verified by Al Jazeera, showed fires, rising smoke, and residents mobilising.
Since Israel unleashed its bombing campaign in Gaza, settler attacks against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem have more than doubled from an average of three to eight incidents a day, according to the United Nations.
More than 700,000 settlers – 10 percent of Israel’s nearly seven million population – now live in 150 settlements and 128 outposts dotting the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem.
More settler attacks reported in the occupied West Bank
The Palestinian news agency Wafa reports a group of Israeli settlers under the protection of Israeli forces attacked the town of Deir Dibwan, east of Ramallah.
Wafa said the settlers stole about 800 sheep, three horses, two donkeys, and water tanks from local residents. Israeli forces then raided the town and stormed a home, confiscating the security camera footage from the property.
Nael Barghouthi faces exile after 45 years in prison
With 45 years behind bars, the world’s longest-serving prisoner, Nael Barghouthi, is expected to be one of the 620 Palestinians released in the coming hours. He is set to be exiled.
In 2011, Nael was released in a soldier-prisoner swap deal, only to be re-arrested less than three years later. His wife, Eman, only spent 32 months with him before he got re-arrested.
