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Israel has intensified its operations in the West Bank, unleashing settlers to carry out violent attacks and imposing strict closures at checkpoints between cities. Thousands of Palestinians have been left stranded outside their towns, facing brutal assaults, all unfolding amid global and regional silence.
In a series of settler attacks on Monday evening, several Palestinians were injured, and properties were torched in the villages of Jinsafut and Al-Funduq, east of Qalqilya. Under the protection of Israeli forces, settlers set fire to homes, a nursery, a carpentry workshop, vehicles, and a bulldozer along the main Qalqilya-Nablus road.
Jalal Basheer, head of the Jinsafut village council, stated that Israeli soldiers entered the village during the settlers’ attack. Local sources reported that a resident sustained a head injury while trying to fend off settlers who started a fire near his home. The Palestinian Red Crescent treated 21 injuries in Al-Funduq, 12 from physical assaults and 9 from tear gas inhalation.
Simultaneously, Israeli forces closed the eastern gate leading to Qalqilya, causing severe traffic congestion. Similar acts of violence occurred across the West Bank on Sunday, with settlers vandalising Palestinian vehicles, setting fires, and blocking main roads.
Widespread Closures and Settler Attacks
Israeli forces have tightened restrictions on key cities, including Nablus, Bethlehem, Jericho, and Ramallah. Near Bethlehem, settlers attacked Palestinian vehicles with stones near the town of Tuqu', causing damage to several cars.
In Hebron, settlers stormed a home in Masafer Yatta and pelted vehicles with stones near Dura, all while chanting racist slogans calling for the expulsion and killing of Palestinians.
In Ramallah, settlers, under military protection, gathered at the entrance of Burqa village and scattered nails on roads to puncture vehicle tyres. Another group assembled near Jabal al-Asur close to Kufr Malik village, obstructing residents' movement. Similar gatherings were reported at the entrance of Ein Siniya, north of Ramallah.
Severe Restrictions on Movement
Israeli forces have also intensified blockades across Salfit Governorate, erecting a military checkpoint at Salfit's northern entrance, preventing residents from leaving the city. They closed the iron gate at the entrance to Qarawat Bani Hassan, affecting access to western villages. Additionally, they set up a checkpoint near Deir Ballut and fired live ammunition and tear gas at passing vehicles.
In Jerusalem, military bulldozers destroyed dirt roads near the Jaba’ military checkpoint, cutting off alternative routes used by residents to bypass strict closures.
Arrests and Ongoing Raids
Israeli forces arrested two young men, Mahmoud Hussein Al-Bayd and Yaqub Mahmoud Dawood, during a raid on Deir Abu Mash’al village. Confrontations erupted during the raid, but no injuries were reported.
In Jericho, Israeli forces installed two iron gates in Al-Auja village and continued to enforce a blockade on the city and its refugee camps, preventing entry and exit.
Meanwhile, in Azzun, east of Qalqilya, Israeli forces detained dozens of residents, subjected them to harsh treatment, and interrogated them on the spot. The town has been under a military-imposed iron gate closure since October 2023.
As violence escalates and restrictions tighten, Palestinians in the West Bank continue to face mounting challenges under the ongoing Israeli military crackdown.
Israeli forces intensified their blockade on towns and villages in Salfit Governorate, erecting a military checkpoint at the northern entrance to Salfit city, preventing residents from leaving. The iron gate near Qarawat Bani Hassan was also closed, cutting off access to western villages. A military checkpoint was set up in the area, with live ammunition and tear gas fired at vehicles approaching the barricade. No injuries were reported.
Additionally, the entrances to the villages of Kifl Haris, Haris, Marda, and the nearby town of Jama’in were sealed. The iron gate at the entrance to Deir Ballut, leading to the nearby village of Rafe’ah, was also closed, and a military checkpoint was established there. Vehicles heading to Deir Ballut were searched, and passengers' IDs were thoroughly checked.
In Jerusalem, military bulldozers leveled dirt roads near the Jaba’ military checkpoint, northwest of the city. These roads had been used by Palestinians to bypass the strict measures imposed at the main checkpoint.
In Deir Abu Mash’al, Israeli forces arrested two young men, Mahmoud Hussein Al-Bayd and Yaqub Mahmoud Dawood, during a raid. Clashes erupted during the incursion, but no injuries were reported.
In Jericho, Israeli forces installed two iron gates in Al-Auja village, north of the city, as part of a continued siege on Jericho and its refugee camps. Residents remain unable to enter or exit the city under these conditions.
In Azzun, east of Qalqilya, Israeli forces detained dozens of residents during a raid, subjecting them to harsh treatment and on-the-spot interrogations. The main northern entrance to the town has been blocked by an iron gate since October 2023.
These measures represent a significant escalation in the Israeli military's restrictions and actions, further isolating Palestinian communities and impacting their daily lives.