Israel Hits Bethlehem in Christmas Raids on Occupied West Bank
Dozens have been arrested as Israeli forces stormed Jenin and areas around Nablus. Christmas day in the occupied West Bank began with an attack on the Jenin refugee camp and several arrests.
The raid on Monday morning followed several others across the territory, which saw dozens of arrests and the shooting in the neck of a 17-year-old boy. Among towns hit was Bethlehem.
Jenin, commonly viewed as a symbol of Palestinian resistance to occupation, has been repeatedly targeted by Israeli forces since its war with Hamas in Gaza began on October 7.
On Monday, the Jenin-based Freedom Theatre, a popular symbol of peace and hope that was recently raided and vandalized by Israeli soldiers, described how Israeli forces lit up the sky with flare bombs while raiding the camp.
Jenin refugee camp is now the most raided camp in the occupied West Bank. The Israeli forces are destroying any symbol of resistance or nationalism in the camp.
While the raids in the camp and Jenin region have now reportedly ended, at least nine young men were arrested in the al-Jalama village, northeast of Jenin.
Regions in and near Nablus, Jericho, Ramallah, and Bethlehem – which Christians believe is the birthplace of Jesus Christ – were also raided overnight by Israeli forces.
Moreover, Palestinian news agency Wafa said that a 17-year-old boy was injured after he was hit in the neck when Israeli forces fired live ammunition during a raid in the town of Aqaba, north of Tubas.
The West Bank has seen surging violence and arrests in parallel to Israel’s war on the Gaza Strip.
In addition to the activities of Israel’s military, attacks by Israeli settlers are also on the rise.
At least 700,000 Israeli settlers live in illegal, fortified, Jewish-only settlements across the West Bank and East Jerusalem, the majority of which were built either entirely or partially on private Palestinian land.
The United Nations noted that in nearly half of all incidents, Israeli forces were either accompanying or actively supporting the attackers.
Rights groups, Palestinians, and some in the international community have slammed Israel for not doing enough to stop settler violence.
Earlier this month, countries like Belgium and the United States announced they would impose visa restrictions on extremist Israeli settlers involved in undermining peace, security, or stability in the occupied West Bank.
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