Israeli forces and colonizers escalated their attacks across the occupied West Bank, including occupied Jerusalem, on Friday, carrying out military invasions, breaking into homes, abducting Palestinians, and assaulting communities. Israeli authorities also imposed new restrictions on Palestinians at Al-Aqsa Mosque.
In occupied Jerusalem, Israeli forces abducted a young Palestinian man from inside Al-Aqsa Mosque as worshippers gathered for Friday prayers.
Samah Mahameed was also barred from entering Al-Aqsa Mosque for 90 days and placed under house arrest for five days.
Israeli forces abducted Mahameed from her home in Umm al-Fahm about a week earlier and transferred her to the Al-Qishla police station in Jerusalem’s Old City.
A court later extended her detention over social media posts about the closure of Al-Aqsa Mosque during the recent war between Israel and Iran. She was released several days later.
Authorities also barred Firas Abu Asba from entering Al-Aqsa Mosque for one week after abducting him following noon prayers at the mosque on Thursday. The order could be extended for several months.
Meanwhile, colonizers invaded Jabal Al-Arma, east of Beita, south of Nablus in the northern West Bank. Local sources said the colonizers obstructed residents’ movement and attempted to attack homes.
Earlier at dawn, colonizers invaded the town of Awarta, also south of Nablus, and painted slogans that local sources described as racist and inflammatory.
In addition, Israeli forces abducted six Palestinians from Qabatia, south of Jenin in the northern West Bank, after breaking into and searching their homes and damaging property. Video footage showed an Israeli soldier taking a potted tree from inside a Palestinian home in the town.
Israeli forces also detained the passengers of a bus traveling to a wedding near the entrance to Qabatia, and interrogated them while inspecting their ID cards.
The Palestinian Prisoners’ Society (PPS) identified them as Yasser Abu Raja, Ahmad Abdul- Rauf As-Sahu, Khaled Abu Rabah, Ahmad Al-Maher, Essam Mahmoud Sheikh Rashid, and Abdul-Rahim Mahmoud Sheikh Rashid.
The military invasion of Qabatia lasted several hours and included repeated break-ins and searches of homes, as well as property damage. Israeli forces also invaded the residential area surrounding the Arab American University near Jenin.
In Umm Safa, northwest of Ramallah in the central West Bank, colonizers erected a tent outpost near Palestinian homes. Village council head Marwan Al-Sabah said dozens of colonizers attacked the home of resident Mohammad Al-Obayyat, damaged property, and erected the tent on the eastern side of the village under the protection of Israeli forces.
Elsewhere, colonizers attacked Palestinians and their dwellings in Khirbet Al-Hamma in the northeastern West Bank. Local human rights activist Aref Daraghma said colonizers invaded residents’ tents and physically assaulted a Palestinian.
Khirbet Al-Hamma has been subjected to repeated attacks by colonizers targeting residents and their homes. Colonizers have also harassed shepherds and prevented them from reaching grazing lands.
South of Bethlehem, several Palestinians suffered the effects of tear gas inhalation after colonizers, accompanied by Israeli forces, attacked a home in the Khallet An-Nahla area.
|Soldiers Invade Multiple West Bank Areas, Abduct Residents|
Local sources said the colonizers invaded the area and attacked the home of Issa Khalil Odah. Residents confronted the colonizers and tried to force them out.
Israeli forces accompanying the colonizers fired live rounds, tear gas canisters, and concussion grenades at Palestinians, causing several people to suffer the effects of tear gas inhalation.
Later on Friday, Israeli forces invaded the towns of Tuqu’, southeast of Bethlehem, and Beit Fajjar, south of the city, and deployed throughout several neighborhoods. No break-ins or abductions were reported during the invasions.
At dawn Friday, Israeli Border Police fatally shot a Palestinian at Damascus Gate (Bab Al-‘Amoud) in occupied East Jerusalem. Israeli police alleged that he had attempted to stab people at the site.
Palestinian sources identified the slain Palestinian as Ibrahim Al-Hindi, 33, from Beit Hanina, north of Jerusalem.
