Christmas Day in the occupied West Bank began with an attack on the Jenin refugee camp and several arrests.
Monday morning’s raid followed several others across the territory that saw dozens of arrests and the shooting in the neck of a 17-year-old boy. Among the towns affected was Bethlehem.
Jenin, commonly seen as a symbol of Palestinian resistance to the occupation, has been repeatedly targeted by Israeli forces since the start of the war against Hamas in Gaza on October 7.
On Monday, the Jenin-based Freedom Theater, a popular symbol of peace and hope that was recently attacked and vandalized by Israeli soldiers, described how Israeli forces lit up the sky “with flares” during of their raid on the camp.
Christmas Day begins with another attack on the Jenin refugee camp, as the Israeli army lights up the sky with flare bombs.
25.12.23#Help Created by @liberté_theatre & @artistefrontline #Jenine #JeninUnderAttack #Palestine #Theater #جنين pic.twitter.com/u44NnedJUg
– Liberty Theater (@freedom_theatre) December 25, 2023
Reporting from the Jenin refugee camp, Tel Aviv Tribune’s Imran Khan said the Israeli army had raided at least 10 homes saying they were looking for Palestinians to arrest. However, no detentions were carried out.
“Israeli forces did call on Palestinian fighters to come out and surrender, but that also did not happen. Residents tell us this is simply a campaign of harassment,” Khan said.
“The Jenin refugee camp is now the most attacked camp in the occupied West Bank. Israeli forces destroy any symbol of resistance or nationalism in the camp. »
While raids in the camp and the Jenin area are now reportedly over, at least nine young men were arrested in the village of al-Jalama, northeast of Jenin.
Areas in and near Nablus, Jericho, Ramallah and Bethlehem – which Christians believe are the birthplace of Jesus Christ – were also attacked overnight by Israeli forces, Hamdah reported Hello from Tel Aviv Tribune.
In the village of Burqa, northwest of the city of Nablus in the occupied West Bank, Israeli forces arrested at least 20 people, including elderly people.
Separately, the Palestinian Wafa news agency said a 17-year-old boy was injured after being shot in the neck when Israeli forces fired live ammunition during a raid in the southern city of Aqaba. north of Tubas.
Wafa reported that Israeli forces also arrested another Tubas resident before withdrawing from the town.
Increased violence in the occupied West Bank
The West Bank has seen a surge in violence and arrests alongside Israel’s war on the Gaza Strip that has killed more than 20,000 Palestinians.
Israel claims to target Hamas in Gaza, but the violence in the West Bank takes place despite Hamas’ limited presence in the territory.
Israeli incursions into the West Bank have killed at least 303 Palestinians since October 7.
In addition to the activities of the Israeli military, attacks by Israeli settlers are also on the rise.
At least 700,000 Israeli settlers live in illegal, fortified, Jewish-only settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, the majority of which were built entirely or partially on private Palestinian land.
The attacks, which have increased exponentially over the past three months, include shootings, stabbings, stone-throwing and beatings, as well as arson and serious damage to homes, vehicles and agricultural land.
The United Nations noted that “in almost half of all incidents, Israeli forces accompanied or actively supported the attackers.”
Rights groups, Palestinians and some in the international community have criticized Israel for not doing enough to end settler violence.
Earlier this month, countries including Belgium and the United States announced they would impose visa restrictions on “extremist” Israeli settlers involved in undermining peace, security or stability in the West Bank. busy.
At a cabinet meeting on Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu’s government ratified a decision to allocate $21 million to support new settlements in the occupied West Bank.