Qalqilya targeted as Israel escalates raids in northern West Bank

"Raids lead to arrest of Palestinians, as Israeli violence surges across northern occupied West Bank. Israeli forces have escalated their attacks across the northern occupied West Bank with fresh assaults on the town of Qalqilya. The Israeli military stormed the eastern entrance of Qalqilya at dawn on Thursday morning before deploying soldiers through several neighborhoods and establishing what local reports have described as a tight cordon around one, Kafr Saba."

"The military also turned one house into a makeshift interrogation site, Wafa reported, holding several young men there for questioning. Palestinian reports said that at least two people were arrested in Qalqilya, in addition to 11 Palestinians held following similar raids on Thursday in Ramallah, Hebron, Jenin and Nablus. Violence has surged across several towns in the northern West Bank over the past week, following the launch of a new Israeli military operation."

"The offensive began in Tubas and Tammun in late November and was later extended to Qabatiya and Masliya, bringing curfews, raids, widespread arrests and significant damage to local infrastructure. The Israeli army has said the goal of its operations in the occupied West Bank is to arrest Palestinian fighters. Israel has conducted near-daily raids in the region since 2022 that have escalated since it began its genocidal war in Gaza in October 2023."

Israeli forces stormed the eastern entrance of Qalqilya at dawn, deployed soldiers through multiple neighborhoods, and imposed a tight cordon around Kafr Saba. Homes were raided, including those of families of detained Palestinians and of people previously killed, and at least one house was converted into a makeshift interrogation site holding several young men for questioning. At least two people were arrested in Qalqilya, and 11 Palestinians were held after similar raids in Ramallah, Hebron, Jenin and Nablus. A military operation that began in Tubas and Tammun in late November expanded to Qabatiya and Masliya, triggering curfews, arrests and infrastructure damage.

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