Israeli forces carry out arrests, blow up home in West Bank raids
Israeli forces have carried out another early morning round of arrests in the occupied West Bank.
According to the Wafa news agency, troops detained five Palestinians in Nablus city, including a former prisoner, after raiding their homes.
They also surrounded a home in the town of Surda, near Ramallah, and opened fire with small arms at it until its inhabitant “surrendered”. Afterwards, the forces “blew up large parts of the house”, according to Wafa.
Netanyahu demands more security checks at Allenby crossing after attack
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered heightened security measures at the King Hussein (Allenby) Bridge crossing between Jordan and the occupied West Bank.
On Thursday, a Jordanian aid truck driver allegedly attacked and killed two Israeli soldiers.
Speaking to ministers at a security cabinet meeting, Netanyahu slammed Jordan for failing to screen the driver, who was armed with a knife and gun, Israel’s Kan news network reported.
“I demand that the drivers pass through metal detectors from now on, and that the trucks be thoroughly inspected,” the broadcaster quoted Netanyahu as saying. “It was Jordan’s responsibility to prevent the attack – and it didn’t.”
Other crossings affected following deadly attack on Israeli soldiers
The Israeli Airports Authority, which operates the King Hussein (Allenby) Bridge crossing, has announced it will be closed until further notice.
In addition, two other crossings between Israel and Jordan were affected, with the Jordan River post in the north shut down. The Rabin crossing in the south remains open only for workers.
The restrictions come after a Jordanian aid truck driver allegedly attacked and killed two Israeli soldiers at the Allenby crossing yesterday. In response, Israeli military chief of staff Eyal Zamir recommended halting humanitarian aid from Jordan while security procedures for Jordanian drivers are reviewed.
Israeli forces beat journalist, doctor in raid near Jenin: Report
Israeli forces have raided the homes of a doctor and a journalist in the town of Arrabeh, near Jenin in the occupied West Bank, and “severely beat” them, reports the Wafa news agency.
Both were hospitalised as a result of the assaults, said Wafa.
While raiding the home of the doctor, named as Nidal al-Ardeh, Israeli forces also “blew up the entrance to his house”, Wafa added.
Israeli raids in West Bank since October 2023: A snapshot
We’ve been reporting on Israel’s violent raids in the occupied West Bank, which have become a near-daily feature of life there since the Gaza war began in October 2023.
Since then, Israeli forces have rounded up at least 19,000 people during incursions, according to figures compiled by Al Jazeera. Currently, 11,000 Palestinians remain jailed in Israeli facilities, a third of whom are being held without charge.
In addition, Israeli forces and settler attacks have killed a total of 1,042 people, including 212 children, across the West Bank, while wounding more than 10,000.
