DaysofPal – Israeli occupation forces carried out a series of pre-dawn raids across cities and towns in the occupied West Bank on Thursday, in a continued policy of collective repression and deepening violations of basic rights. Troops stormed homes during the early hours of the second day of Ramadan and conducted widespread arrests.
A Palestinian man was shot by Israeli soldiers during a raid on the town of Beit Ola, west of Hebron. At least 37 Palestinians were arrested in simultaneous operations targeting Hebron, Qalqilya, and other areas.
Forces entered homes and shops, searched and ransacked property, and converted a residential building in the Jabal Jales area of Hebron into a military barracks. Residents view these actions as a serious violation of the sanctity of homes and the right to privacy and personal security.
Video footage circulated online showed detainees with their hands bound and eyes blindfolded while being taken for interrogation. Such treatment constitutes degrading conduct that cannot be justified on security grounds. International law establishes an absolute prohibition on cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment, a ban that cannot be suspended under any circumstances, including armed conflict.
In Qalqilya, Israeli forces entered the eastern part of the city, the New Askar refugee camp, and the Middle Cooperation Street area. Thirteen Palestinians were arrested after homes were searched and their contents damaged.
These operations form part of a growing pattern of arbitrary detention. Individuals are held without meaningful judicial guarantees, and many are denied the right to know the reasons for their arrest or to have prompt access to legal counsel.
Since the start of the genocide in Gaza in October 2023, violations in the West Bank have expanded to include killings, arrests, displacement, and settlement expansion. Palestinians view this context as a systematic policy aimed at imposing new realities on the ground.
More than 1,116 Palestinians have been killed and approximately 11,500 injured in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. Nearly 22,000 Palestinians have been arrested in the territory during the same period.
Under international law, an occupying power bears full responsibility for protecting the civilian population and safeguarding fundamental rights. International humanitarian law considers residents under occupation to be protected persons and prohibits collective punishment, reprisals, and humiliating treatment.
The use of force and live fire against civilians is lawful only under strict and limited conditions. Field reports raise serious questions regarding compliance with these standards.
Nighttime home raids, the binding and blindfolding of detainees, and the conversion of residential buildings into military sites reflect a systematic policy of repression. These practices disregard international legal obligations and intensify civilian suffering during a month traditionally associated with the protection of homes and human dignity.
Shortlink for this post: https://daysofpalestine.ps/?p=72316
