Occupation closes Zakat Committee in Jenin and launches widespread arrest campaign in West Bank

The Israeli occupation army carried out a series of widespread incursions and raids targeting several cities and towns in the occupied West Bank this Thursday morning. These operations focused on the governorates of Nablus, Jenin, and Hebron, resulting in the arrest of a number of citizens and the destruction of private property and public institutions.

In a significant development in Jenin city, occupation forces stormed the headquarters of the Zakat Fund Committee, wreaking havoc before deciding to completely close it. Local sources reported that soldiers seized a collection of belongings and documents belonging to the committee, which provides humanitarian and relief services to needy families in the area.

The violations in Jenin were not limited to charitable institutions but extended to the commercial market in the city center, where Israeli forces raided commercial shops. Sources confirmed that the occupation seized quantities of agricultural materials from one of the stores before withdrawing from the area.

In the Nablus governorate, north of the West Bank, occupation forces launched a raid campaign that affected various neighborhoods and villages, resulting in the arrest of at least three citizens. The incursion involved a thorough search of homes and tampering with their contents, causing a state of panic among local residents, especially children and women.

Moving to the southern West Bank, specifically in the city of Dura in the Hebron governorate, occupation forces arrested three Palestinians, including a released prisoner who had spent years in prisons. These arrests came after raiding and provocatively searching their homes, as part of the continuous policy of pursuing released prisoners.

In the town of Bani Na'im, east of Hebron, occupation vehicles stormed the town and subjected dozens of young men to harsh field interrogations in the open. Videos circulated on social media platforms showed occupation soldiers detaining and abusing citizens amidst strict security measures.

For its part, the Prisoners' Information Office confirmed in a press statement that these daily campaigns fall within the policy of collective punishment practiced by the occupation against the Palestinian people. The statement clarified that the acts of abuse and destruction accompanying the incursions aim to break the will of citizens and systematically intimidate them.

These measures in Jenin are a continuation of the policy of targeting charitable organizations, as the occupation had previously closed similar headquarters in the town of Idhna in Hebron last month. The occupation had then arrested former Minister of Endowments Hatem Al-Bakri after storming the headquarters of the Islamic Charitable Society which he heads.

Regarding settler attacks, the Masafer Yatta area, south of Hebron, witnessed a widespread theft incident targeting the livelihoods of Palestinian citizens. A group of settlers infiltrated Khirbet Huraibat al-Nabi at dawn and cut the locks of a sheep pen belonging to the Abu Ali family.

Citizen Mohammed Abu Ali reported that the settlers stole approximately 50 sheep, in addition to the guard dogs that were protecting the flock. He pointed out that these livestock represent the sole source of livelihood for his family, accusing the settlers of working in coordination with the army to displace them from their lands.

Residents of Masafer Yatta described the recent attacks as the most severe in years, as they are subjected to almost daily attacks including tear gas and beatings. These practices, according to observers, aim to tighten the noose on Bedouin and agricultural communities to force them to leave for the sake of settlement expansion.

In a related context, the Wall and Settlement Resistance Commission revealed in its latest report a frightening escalation in the pace of settler attacks in the West Bank. The governmental body documented more than 1600 attacks in April alone, including armed attacks, property destruction, and uprooting trees.

Official Palestinian data indicates that the West Bank has been in a state of turmoil since the start of the aggression on the Gaza Strip in October 2023. The death toll in the West Bank has risen to 1162 martyrs, while the number of injured has exceeded 12,000 as a result of ongoing confrontations.

Arrest campaigns also peaked in recent months, with human rights organizations recording the arrest of nearly 23,000 Palestinians from various West Bank governorates. These arrests are often made under administrative detention or on charges related to political and field activity against the occupation.

The continuation of daily arrest campaigns, acts of abuse, and destruction reflects the escalation of the policy of repression and collective punishment pursued by the occupation forces.