Israeli forces raid occupied West Bank towns, blow up Palestinian home in Hebron
Local Palestinian media outlets report that Israeli forces have carried out raids across the occupied West Bank overnight and into the early hours of this morning, including:
- Homes were raided in Halhul town, located north of Hebron, and the Wadi Abu Katila area northwest of Hebron. Yatta city to the south of Hebron was also stormed by troops.
- Israeli soldiers destroyed the home of Palestinian prisoner Zaid al-Junaidi in Hebron late on Tuesday night by placing explosives inside his house and blowing it up. According to the Wafa news agency, Israel forces brought al-Junaidi with them during the operation and beat him up as they blew up his house.
- Israeli troops stormed the Shuweika suburb in the Tulkarem governorate.
- Raids were carried out on Deir Ibzi town, west of Ramallah, and in Ramallah city. Wafa reports that two Palestinian youths were injured by Israeli gunfire in the village of Shuqba, west of Ramallah.
- Palestinian homes were searched in the Balata refugee camp and the Dahieh neighbourhood, east of Nablus, as well as the town of Awarta to the south.
- Israeli forces also raided Qabatiya town, south of Jenin, and stormed part of Qalqilya city.
Israeli forces close off Balata camp, make three arrests: Report
Israeli soldiers sealed off entrances to Balata camp in the occupied West Bank while setting up snipers on rooftops, raiding a “large number of homes”, and apprehending three citizens, reports the Wafa news agency.
While assaulting Palestinian homes, Israeli troops ransacked the property and beat a 15-year-old, it said, citing local security sources. The incursion is ongoing.
More arrests, interrogations in occupied West Bank
Israeli forces temporarily detained and interrogated dozens of youths during a raid on the village of Husan, 9km (5.6 miles) west of Bethlehem, according to Wafa news agency. Several minors were among those held, it reported, adding all were later released.
Meanwhile, Israeli troops also arrested five people, including a 17-year-old high school student, from the town of Yatta near Hebron. Before arresting the student, Israeli soldiers “beat him severely” in front of his family, a local activist told the news agency.
Israeli army forces Palestinian to demolish his own home
Israeli authorities forced Palestinian Alaa Alian to demolish his own house in the town of Beit Safafa, southeast of occupied East Jerusalem, Wafa news agency reports.
In the wake of Israel’s war on Gaza, Israel has stepped up home demolitions in East Jerusalem, which it annexed in 1967. Israeli officials justify the demolitions by saying the homes were built without permits. The municipality typically only allows Jewish majority neighbourhoods to build new houses.
The legal discrimination has forced Palestinians to build without permits, rendering 28 percent of Palestinian homes in East Jerusalem “illegal”.
Israeli army says it demolished Palestinian fighter’s house in West Bank
The Israeli army has demolished the house of a Palestinian fighter it alleged was responsible for the killing of an Israeli general and the wounding of six other people during an exchange of gunfire last year.
The military identified the Palestinian as Mujahid Mansour and said his home was located in Deir Ibzi’a, west of Ramallah, in the northern West Bank. Mansour was killed during the gun battle.
The Israeli authorities maintain a policy of demolishing the homes of Palestinians accused of attacking Israeli soldiers and settlers – a practice widely condemned as a form of collective punishment prohibited under international law.
