Description

Photo:
See videos at IMEMC News Source Link
_____

by IMEMC News
April 9, 2025

At dawn on Wednesday, Israeli soldiers invaded various areas across the occupied West Bank, storming and ransacking dozens of homes, and abducting scores of Palestinians and demolished several structures, as the expanded military offensive entered its third month.

In the early hours, the Israeli military invaded Balata refugee camp, east of Nablus, in the northern occupied West Bank, forcibly displacing families from their homes.

The invasion targeted the Yasmin neighborhood in the heart of the refugee camp, where soldiers abducted Ahmad Abu Hamada and stormed the home of Abu Mahyoub Abu Leil, causing significant damage.

During the invasion, the soldiers assaulted a Palestinian child, 15, striking him with batons, causing several injuries, the Palestinian Red Crescent Society has confirmed.

Families were forcibly displaced from their homes in the camp, while Israeli forces also invaded the cities of Tulkarem and Jenin, as well as refugee camps in the northern occupied West Bank.

Media sources said the soldiers invaded Far’un village, south of Tulkarem in the northwestern part of the West Bank and forced a family out of their home before demolishing it.

Organizations advocating for detainees’ rights reported that Israeli forces abducted numerous Palestinians during the invasions, storming their homes and causing extensive damage. Many Palestinians were also subjected to field interrogations after being detained and assaulted for hours.

Eyewitnesses stated that a large Israeli military force, including armored vehicles and foot patrols, invaded Balata refugee camp early Wednesday morning.

The invading troops conducted violent house-to-house searches, turning buildings into military outposts.

Witnesses added that the army imposed a curfew on the camp and forcibly displaced dozens of families. Videos shared on social media showed families leaving the camp’s outskirts, carrying personal belongings.

One displaced resident stated that the Israeli army forced him and his family to leave their home “for an indefinite period.”

In Hebron, in the southern occupied West Bank, Israeli soldiers abducted five Palestinians, including a high school student. The Palestinian Prisoners’ Society (PPS) reported that Israeli military vehicles invaded Yatta town, south of Hebron, and abducted Samir Mohammad Bahis, Jibril Ahmad Makhamra, and Nu’man Ismail Shanran after storming and searching their homes.

Israeli forces also abducted Osama Abdullah Al-Salal from Bani Na’im town at a military roadblock set up at the entrance to Farsh Al-Hawa in Hebron City. Mohammad Awad, a media activist in Beit Ummar, stated that Israeli forces invaded the town and abducted 17-year-old high school student Ahmad Mousa Issa Za’aqeeq after brutally assaulting him in front of his family.

Additionally, the army installed several military roadblocks at the entrances to Hebron and its towns, villages, and refugee camps, closing main and secondary roads using iron gates, concrete blocks, and earth mounds.

Israeli forces also detained dozens of young men and children during an invasion of Husan village, near Bethlehem. The army spread across multiple areas of the village, storming and ransacking Palestinian homes, causing damage. During the invasion, several youths and children were detained and taken to the courtyard of Abu Bakr Al-Siddiq Mosque, where they were interrogated before being released.

Furthermore, Israeli forces tightened military measures at the Al-Hamra military roadblock in the northern Jordan Valley.

Local sources reported that soldiers obstructed the passage of Palestinian vehicles traveling through the roadblock , causing traffic congestion stretching hundreds of meters and preventing citizens from reaching their workplaces.

The military roadblock has witnessed intensified restrictions and repeated closures over the past two years, severely hindering Palestinian movement.

Israeli military bulldozers also demolished a water tank in Al-Deir village, located in the northern Jordan Valley.

Omar Fuqaha, head of the Ein Al-Baida Village Council, stated that the demolished tank had a capacity of 10,000 cubic meters and served local farmers. The demolition was carried out under the pretext of unlicensed construction.

The Al-Deir region, known for its irrigated agriculture, has suffered significant setbacks over the past two years. Israeli forces have destroyed numerous water pumps, demolished solar panels used to operate the pumps, while illegal paramilitary Israeli settlers have looted agricultural equipment and sabotaged irrigation networks for local crops.

In Beit Safafa town, southeast of occupied Jerusalem, Israeli authorities forced a Palestinian resident to demolish his own home.

Local sources reported that the Jerusalem Municipality compelled Alaa Elian to self-demolish his two-story house.

Israeli authorities frequently force Palestinians, particularly in Jerusalem, to demolish their homes under the pretext of lacking construction permits. Those who refuse face demolition by Israeli bulldozers, along with exorbitant fines and fees, in addition to demolition costs imposed on the homeowners.

The Jerusalem Municipality systematically denies Palestinians building permits and either demolishes their homes or forces them to carry out the demolition themselves. These practices violate international laws and human rights conventions that guarantee the right to housing. They are part of Israel’s systematic efforts to forcibly displace Palestinians from Jerusalem while expanding settlements in and around the city.

Furthermore, dozens of soldiers invaded the town of Al-Isawiya town, in Jerusalem, and searched homes.

Since January 21, the Israeli military has continued its assault on towns, cities, and refugee camps in the northern occupied West Bank. Amid its ongoing genocide in Gaza, the Israeli military and settlers have intensified attacks in the West Bank, resulting in the killing of over 947 Palestinians, injuries to nearly 7,000, and the abduction of 15,800 individuals.

Features