Escalation in Jerusalem and the West Bank: Al-Aqsa Incursions and an Arrest Campaign Targeting Associations and Doctors

Groups of settlers stormed the courtyards of the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied Jerusalem on Thursday morning, where they conducted provocative tours and performed Talmudic rituals under tight security from the occupation forces. These incursions come amidst official warnings issued by the Jerusalem Governorate about plans led by the alleged 'Temple organizations,' aiming to impose a new reality and expand the scope of violations during upcoming occasions, especially what is called 'Jerusalem Unification Day.'

In a related context, Israeli occupation forces launched a wide-ranging raid campaign in various governorates of the West Bank, focusing on Nablus city where the 'Madaed' charitable association was stormed and closed. The forces tampered with the association's contents and confiscated some of its belongings before issuing a decision to close it, claiming it provided services to entities described by the occupation authorities as 'illegal,' without providing clear evidence for these allegations.

Military operations at dawn today included the cities of Hebron, Bethlehem, Salfit, and Qalqilya, where local sources reported the arrest of a number of citizens, including two doctors from the town of Tafuh, west of Hebron, after their homes were raided and thoroughly searched. These arrests fall within the ongoing field escalation policy adopted by Israeli forces in West Bank cities and towns for several months, leading to an increase in security tension.

Regarding settler attacks in pastoral areas, the human rights organization 'Al-Baydar' revealed a forced displacement crime targeting a Bedouin family of seven in the area west of Al-Auja village, north of Jericho. Sources explained that continuous pressure, physical assaults, and intimidation by settlers forced the family to forcibly relocate towards the northern Jordan Valley, as part of the occupation's efforts to empty areas classified as 'C' of their original inhabitants.

International reports indicate the seriousness of the humanitarian situation in the West Bank, where UNICEF noted that the escalating pace of violence since the beginning of 2025 has led to the martyrdom of approximately one Palestinian child weekly. This field reality reflects the extent of violations faced by Palestinians, amidst the ongoing war on the Gaza Strip and the intensification of military and settlement operations in all occupied territories.

Jerusalem Governorate warns of an escalation led by Temple organizations in cooperation with the occupation government to change the historical and legal status of Al-Aqsa Mosque.