Israeli settlers set fire to a home and abduct Palestinians in West Bank while Israel plans to seize 200 dunams of land in Jenin

In the occupied West Bank, Israeli settlers set fire to a home in Bethlehem and abducted two Palestinians in Hebron. The Israeli army also decided to seize approximately 200 dunams of Palestinian land in Jenin.

Israeli settlers set fire to home, abduct two Palestinians in West Bank

In the occupied West Bank, Israeli settlers who have been usurping Palestinian lands carried out a series of attacks that began with the torching of a home in Bethlehem and the abduction of two Palestinians in Hebron.

Home and vehicle set on fire in Bethlehem

According to a statement by the Palestinian Red Crescent, Israeli settlers set fire to a Palestinian home in the Abu Nujaym area east of Bethlehem. Eight people from the same family were evacuated, and no injuries were reported. The official Palestinian news agency WAFA reported that the usurpers also set fire to a vehicle belonging to a Palestinian in the area.

Two Palestinians abducted in Hebron

In Beit Ula, west of Hebron in the southern West Bank, Israelis abducted two Palestinians after setting their vehicle on fire.

Israeli army intensifies raids and detentions

The Israeli army wounded a Palestinian with gunfire during a raid on the town of Kafr Aqab, north of occupied East Jerusalem. According to Palestine's official radio "Voice of Palestine," clashes occurred during the raid, and Israeli soldiers used tear gas canisters. The Jerusalem Governorate announced that a young man was detained during the raid.

In the southern West Bank, Israeli forces raided the Khallet al-Fara area west of Yatta, south of Hebron. Activist Osama Muhamer, who monitors Israeli violations against Palestinians, said Israeli soldiers detained a Palestinian who was herding his animals and his child.

200 dunams of land to be seized in Jenin

The Israeli army issued a series of orders for the seizure of approximately 200 dunams of Palestinian land in Jenin. Tariq Ighbariya, the official in charge of the Settlement Units File in Jenin, stated that the orders target lands in the towns of Araba, Yamoun, Qabatiya, Misilya, Marka, and Jarba. Ighbariya noted that the majority of the orders aim at the construction and expansion of military roads exceeding a total length of 11.3 kilometers to serve newly established illegal settlement areas.

Ighbariya pointed out that the decisions to usurp land come at a time when notifications for the demolition of structures and halting of construction work are on the rise. He said that these practices are "not temporary but part of a systematic Israeli policy targeting the Palestinian presence through the seizure of more land and the establishment of new illegal settlement areas in Jenin."

Attacks and water line cut in Tubas

Israelis who have been usurping Palestinian lands also carried out attacks in the Tubas area of the West Bank. Mutez Bisharat, who is responsible for the Jewish Settlement Units File in Tubas and the Northern Jordan Valley under the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), said that Israeli usurpers in military uniforms raided the Er-Ras al-Ahmar area east of Tubas during the night. Bisharat stated that the Israelis attacked three Palestinian families, threatened to force the families to leave the area, and seized three vehicles belonging to Palestinians. The attackers also cut the water pipeline used by residents of the area.

Escalating violations since October 2023

Since Israel launched its offensive on the Gaza Strip in October 2023, there has been an increase in detentions, raids, and attacks against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem. According to data from the Wall and Settlement Resistance Commission, affiliated with the Palestinian Authority, Israel has usurped 60,000 dunams of Palestinian land in the West Bank during this period. Of these, 3,400 dunams were seized under 171 military orders issued for security and military purposes.

The escalation of tensions by the Israeli army in collaboration with Israelis who have been usurping Palestinian land in the occupied West Bank during this period has led to the death of 1,182 Palestinians, the injury of approximately 13,000 people, the detention of nearly 24,000 people, and the forced displacement of 33,000 people.