The Palestinian Prisoners' Society announced a dangerous escalation in the arrest campaigns carried out by Israeli occupation forces since the beginning of the holy month of Ramadan, with raids targeting more than 100 citizens in various West Bank governorates. The society noted that these campaigns were characterized by excessive violence and systematically targeted women, children, and released prisoners, reflecting a policy of collective punishment coinciding with religious occasions.
On Sunday morning, the city of Qalqilya and the town of Azzun witnessed widespread incursions resulting in the arrest of 8 Palestinians, including three young brothers: Yahya, Yaqoub, and Rashad Salim. Local sources reported that occupation soldiers severely beat their father before taking the children to an unknown location, while arrests in Qalqilya included Aboud Nofal, Amir Khader, Adham Oweinat, Amr Hilal, and Mazen Abu Al-Sheikh.
In occupied Jerusalem, settlers continued their violations by storming the courtyards of the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque under tight protection from the occupation police. These incursions come at a time when Israeli authorities impose strict restrictions on the entry of Palestinian worshippers, increasing tension in the holy city during the days of the holy month.
Field sources reported that occupation forces reinforced their military presence by deploying approximately 1000 fixed and mobile checkpoints and iron gates that cut off the connections between West Bank cities and villages. These measures completely obstructed the movement of citizens and turned population centers into open prisons, exacerbating the humanitarian and economic suffering of the residents.
Regarding settler attacks, extremist groups attacked the Bedouin community of 'Bir Al-Maskoub' near Al-Eizariya, southeast of Jerusalem, in addition to targeting citizens' homes in the town of Beit Furik, east of Nablus. Settlers also set fire to an agricultural house in the town of Abu Falah, northeast of Ramallah, before fire brigades were able to control the blaze that erupted after army forces stormed the town.
In the context of forced displacement policy, press reports revealed an escalation by the Israeli army in destroying Bedouin communities in areas classified as 'C'. Reports indicated that the so-called 'National Guard' affiliated with extremist minister Itamar Ben-Gvir operates without legal constraints to displace Palestinians, which recently led to the departure of 11 families from the 'Al-Khalayel community' in Al-Mughayyir village under the weight of intimidation.
In the town of Al-Isawiya in occupied Jerusalem, occupation authorities forced citizen Majdi Attiya to self-demolish his home, a policy aimed at displacing Jerusalemites and emptying the city of its original inhabitants. Palestinian families resort to self-demolition to avoid paying exorbitant fines imposed by the occupation municipality if its mechanisms carry out the demolition.
Human rights reports documented the injury of 4 Palestinians, including a child, due to attacks carried out by settlers in Al-Mughayyir village and Masafer Yatta areas in Hebron. Settlers wearing military uniforms also assaulted the elderly Mufdi Rabai and his son Majd in Al-Tuwana village, as part of a clear role-sharing between settlers and army forces in carrying out attacks.
Official statistics indicate that the number of prisoners in occupation prisons has risen to more than 9,300, including 350 children and 66 women. These prisoners face tragic detention conditions, including systematic torture, starvation policy, and deliberate medical neglect, which has resulted in the martyrdom of dozens inside prisons since the beginning of the recent aggression.
Since October 8, 2023, Israel has intensified its undeclared war in the West Bank in parallel with the aggression on the Gaza Strip. These operations included direct killing, mass arrests, and destruction of infrastructure, in an attempt to undermine the Palestinian presence and impose a new settlement reality that will be difficult to change in the future.
The toll of victims in the West Bank since that date has reached approximately 1,117 martyrs and more than 11,500 injured, while the number of detainees has exceeded 22,000 Palestinians. Human rights organizations confirm that these figures reflect the extent of organized terrorism practiced by the occupation against unarmed civilians amid complete international silence.
In conclusion, national and Islamic forces warned of an explosion of the situation due to the continuation of these violations, especially in light of the targeting of Al-Aqsa Mosque and the escalation of settler attacks in villages and towns. Popular activities called for the necessity of strengthening national unity and confronting displacement and arrest schemes aimed at breaking the will of the Palestinian people.
The occupation increased the pace of arrest campaigns with the beginning of Ramadan, to include women, children, and former prisoners amid harsh punitive conditions.
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Israeli escalation in Ramadan: 100 Palestinians arrested in West Bank, widespread incursions into Al-Aqsa