Israel Raids Palestinian Refugee Camp in West Bank, 20 Arrested
Israeli forces have raided Palestinian refugee camps in the West Bank, resulting in the arrest of 20 people. The operation is part of an intensified series of incursions into West Bank refugee camps, which critics say are designed to displace and intimidate Palestinian residents.
Reporting from occupied Qalandiya in the West Bank, Al Jazeera’s Nida Ibrahim described the situation as increasingly dangerous for journalists attempting to operate inside the camp. A journalist covering the Israeli military operation this morning was beaten by Israeli soldiers stationed at the site.
The raid commenced around 11 p.m. on Tuesday night, with Israeli forces continuing to deploy additional personnel into the refugee camp. They carried out arrests alongside acts of intimidation against residents. The Al Jazeera reporter noted that many observers believe this intimidation is the primary objective of the raids.
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz stated he had ordered the military to launch a raid on a fourth refugee camp, following similar operations in three other camps in the northern occupied West Bank. Those three locations had previously been raided and besieged by Israeli forces, resulting in the forced displacement of Palestinian residents.
The name of the fourth camp was not announced. Objections have reportedly emerged from some military officials who stated they lack sufficient personnel to enter and occupy the camps. The current situation appears to be a form of intimidation against Palestinians who fear their camp will be the next target.
Israel has claimed the raids aim to create ‘better security’ and confront Palestinians planning attacks. In reality, however, the actions are an integral part of Israel’s escalation in the occupied West Bank, ultimately intended to instil fear and force people to leave their land.
Meanwhile, AFP reported that its journalists saw around a dozen armoured military jeeps enter the Qalandia camp, with access now closed off by Israeli troops to both the press and residents. A military official told AFP that ‘security forces are operating in the Qalandia camp area to thwart terror activities and arrest wanted individuals.’
COGAT, the Israeli defence ministry body handling civil affairs in the Palestinian territories, claimed the large-scale operation targeted ‘terrorist elements, terrorist infrastructure, and the possession and trade of weapons’. The statement added: ‘We will not allow this camp to become a hub of terrorism or a haven for terrorists and criminals, just as we do not permit it in other camps throughout Judea and Samaria,’ using the biblical term for the West Bank, which Israel has occupied since 1967.
Mohammad Aslan, a spokesperson for the committee managing Qalandiya camp’s affairs, said that Israeli soldiers had arrested at least 20 people and positioned troops on the rooftops of several homes inside the camp.