Israeli forces killed a man and abducted at least 21 Palestinians, including a woman and two children, during invasions across the West Bank on Tuesday. Soldiers also demolished structures, displaced families, restricted movement, and deployed in Bethlehem’s Manger Square, while colonizers carried out attacks and seized Palestinian land.
In Bethlehem, in the southern West Bank, Israeli forces invaded the city on Tuesday afternoon, driving military vehicles through several neighborhoods before deploying in Manger Square. Soldiers were also seen in Bab az-Zqaq, the Cinema area, the Shepherd area, Saf Street, and Wadi Ma’ali.
Witnesses said soldiers dismounted from military vehicles in Manger Square and conducted foot patrols while interrogating Palestinians in and around the historic plaza. No abductions were reported during the Manger Square deployment.
Israeli forces also abducted two Palestinian children in Bethlehem. Local sources said soldiers abducted Farid Rami Al-Hreimi, 15, and Sa’di Raed Al-‘Adam, 16, after invading the Saf Street area in the center of the city. Soldiers also assaulted the mother of one of the children.
Meanwhile, Israeli forces continued a strict siege imposed since Monday night on the town of ‘Anata and Shu’fat refugee camp, northeast of occupied Jerusalem. Troops remained heavily deployed throughout the area, sealing roads and entrances, restricting movement, and carrying out repeated invasions of homes and businesses.
The siege disrupted daily life for an estimated 80,000 Palestinians. Schools and kindergartens suspended classes, while business owners were prevented from opening their shops, resulting in near-total paralysis of commercial activity throughout the town and refugee camp.
The two children in Bethlehem were among 21 Palestinians abducted during Israeli invasions across several West Bank governorates.
In Tulkarem, in the northwestern West Bank, soldiers abducted four Palestinians, including a woman, after breaking into homes in the city. The abducted Palestinians were identified as former prisoner Ra’fat Jamil Nasif, 61, Ali Fathallah Sa’idi, Anas Sheikh Hussein, and Rou’a Ibrahim Raja Al-Hafi, 30.
In Tubas, in the northeastern West Bank, soldiers invaded Tammun town and abducted Yazan Samer Bani Odeh, 18, after breaking into and searching his family’s home.
In Jenin, in the northern West Bank, Israeli forces abducted Ahmad Wael Ash-Sharqawi after invading his home in Az-Zababda town. Soldiers also invaded Meithalun town, broke into several homes, converted one residence into a field interrogation center, and abducted Sael Samer Rabay’a.
In Nablus, in the northern West Bank, soldiers invaded Kufur Qalil town, searched several homes, and abducted Kamal Abdul-Jabbar Amer.
In Hebron, in the southern West Bank, Israeli forces abducted ten Palestinians during widespread invasions of Hebron city and Doura town. Among those abducted were Fayez Al-Ja’bari and his son Ali, along with former prisoners Ayyoub Al-‘Awawda and Muntasir Shadid, Yousef Abu Zneid, Hossam Abu Ras, Hamza Shaher Amr, Ibrahim Abu Zneid, Mohammad Az-Zeer, and Salim Ar-Rajoub.
In occupied Jerusalem, Israeli forces abducted former prisoner John Qaqish after breaking into and searching his home.
Beyond the named abductions, Israeli forces closed the headquarters of the Tulkarem Central Zakat Committee, affiliated with the Palestinian Ministry of Endowments and Religious Affairs, after invading the facility in the suburb of Ertah, south of the city.
Soldiers forced Palestinian workers from the Gaza Strip to leave the building and abducted an unspecified number of them. After the army withdrew, Palestinian Civil Defense and Red Crescent crews found the body of Gaza resident As’ad Mleiha inside; the circumstances of his death remained unknown.
The army additionally forced residents living opposite Tulkarem refugee camp to evacuate their homes, claiming it intended to carry out detonations in the area. Residents were ordered to leave immediately and remain away until later in the day.
Israeli bulldozers also demolished an agricultural facility in the Shweika suburb north of Tulkarem. Local sources said farmer Ibrahim Abu Zohri owned the structure, which contained agricultural equipment and supported farming activities.
In Nablus, Israeli forces killed Abdul-Karim Mohammad Salem Khader, 28, during a siege on a home in the Ad-Deeriya area of Aqraba, south of the city. Soldiers surrounded and attacked the home, demanded that Khader surrender, and threatened to demolish it. The army later partially demolished the home and abducted Khader’s body after barring Palestinian Red Crescent medics from reaching him.
Also in the Nablus governorate, soldiers invaded Huwwara town and forced shop owners to close their businesses while troops remained heavily deployed in the town center.
In Jenin, Israeli bulldozers demolished a livestock structure in Silat ath-Thaher town. Municipal officials said the approximately 200-square-meter facility belonged to Yousif Jouda Othman Mousa and was used for raising sheep.
In Masafer Yatta, south of Hebron, Israeli forces demolished homes and livestock facilities in the Khirbet Al-Fakhit community. Several Palestinians suffered the effects of tear gas inhalation during the demolition operation.
Israeli forces also demolished a stone-and-tin residence and a cave dwelling and filled in two water wells in Khallet Ad-Dabe’ in Masafer Yatta. Anti-colonization activist Jaber Dababsa said the demolished home belonged to Mohammad Ali Dababsa and housed 14 family members who were rendered homeless.
Israeli Colonizers also continued attacks throughout the occupied West Bank.
In the northeastern West Bank, colonizers blocked a dirt road leading to the Northern Yarza community east of Tubas by placing large rocks across the roadway, limiting residents’ access to the area.
In Hebron, dozens of colonizers arrived by bus under military protection and gathered on Jabal Al-Qaddisa in Sa’ir town, northeast of the city, where they raised Israeli flags.
In Bethlehem, a colonizer struck Palestinian child Ayoub Mazen Shafiq with his vehicle in the village of Abu Njeim, southeast of the city. The child sustained bruises and other injuries and was transported to a hospital for treatment.
Also in Bethlehem, colonizers began expanding an illegal colonial outpost built on Palestinian land in the village of Al-Minya, southeast of the city. Ahmad Kawazba, head of the Al-Minya Village Council, said large trucks delivered materials and additional mobile homes to the outpost established in the Jabal Al-Qarn area near the homes of the Jabarin family.
Kawazba added that colonizers from the outpost have escalated their attacks against the Jabarin family, including opening fire, breaking into their home, destroying water infrastructure, and stealing water tanks. He said colonizers had also recently expanded the outpost by seizing additional Palestinian land and fencing it off.
Tuesday’s invasions, demolitions, forced displacement, movement restrictions, and colonizer attacks formed part of continuing Israeli measures against Palestinian communities across the occupied West Bank.
