The Israeli military has escalated its operations across the occupied West Bank following a deadly shootout near Nablus that left four Palestinians and two Israeli soldiers dead. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered a wide-scale military crackdown, which intensified on Sunday, involving raids, arrests, and increased settler violence against Palestinian communities.
Security forces conducted raids in multiple towns and villages, including Rafidia and Huwara near Nablus, as well as locations across the West Bank such as Hebron, Jenin, Ramallah, Bethlehem, and Tulkarem. Palestinian officials reported the detention of hundreds of Palestinians during these operations. The Palestinian news agency Wafa stated that 30 individuals were arrested in Tal—the village where the initial confrontation occurred—14 in Ramallah, five in Jenin, eight in Hebron, three in Bethlehem, and six in Tulkarem. In Jenin, Israeli forces reportedly carried out an extensive raid covering the city and several neighboring areas.
The crackdown has been accompanied by a surge in violence from Jewish settlers. Witnesses and local officials described settlers engaging in aggressive acts, including vandalism and physical attacks on Palestinians. Settlers reportedly attempted to set fire to two mosques: the recently constructed Al-Rahma Mosque in Qusra, southeast of Nablus, and another mosque in the village of Kour, south of Tulkarem. In Qusra, settlers spray-painted slogans such as “Jewish revenge” on mosque walls before footage captured flames engulfing the building. At Kour, authorities said three settlers tried to ignite the mosque at dawn, but worshippers and community members extinguished the fire before it could cause major damage.
Humanitarian organizations also reported interference with emergency responders. The Palestine Red Crescent Society said one of its paramedics was assaulted in Masafer Yatta, south of Hebron. Additionally, video evidence circulated showing Israeli forces assaulting a paramedic and a civilian in Huwara.
The escalation reflects growing tensions in the West Bank following the deadly clash near Nablus and highlights ongoing challenges in the area amid a broader context of Israeli military operations and settler-Palestinian confrontations. The intensified raids and settler violence have raised concerns among local Palestinian authorities and international observers about the potential for further deterioration of security and living conditions across the occupied territory.