The Israeli military has detained at least 30 more Palestinians in a series of fresh raids across the occupied West Bank, according to prisoners’ rights organizations on Thursday. The latest wave of arrests is part of an ongoing crackdown that has intensified in recent months.
According to a joint statement by the Commission of Detainees’ Affairs and the Palestinian Prisoner Society, the detainees include children and former prisoners. The Israeli army conducted raids in several towns, storming homes, ransacking properties, and detaining individuals without prior warning. Family members of the detainees have reported violent searches, with Israeli forces allegedly using excessive force during arrests.
These raids come as Israel continues a large-scale military offensive in the northern West Bank, particularly in areas such as Jenin and Tulkarm, where at least 65 Palestinians have been killed and thousands displaced since January 21. Residents have reported the destruction of homes, infrastructure damage, and severe restrictions on movement due to roadblocks and military checkpoints.
Palestinian statistics indicate that over 9,500 Palestinians are currently imprisoned in Israeli detention centers and prisons, including 1,555 from Gaza. Many detainees are held under administrative detention, a policy that allows imprisonment without charge or trial for renewable six-month periods. Human rights groups have repeatedly condemned this practice as a violation of international law.
Palestinian officials warn that the Israeli military’s actions align with a broader agenda by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government to annex the occupied West Bank and impose full Israeli sovereignty over the territory. Such a move, they argue, would mark the definitive collapse of the two-state solution and fuel further instability in the region.
Tensions in the West Bank have reached alarming levels since the outbreak of the Gaza war on October 7, 2023. According to the Palestinian Health Ministry, at least 930 Palestinians have been killed and nearly 7,000 wounded by Israeli military operations and attacks carried out by illegal settlers. Many Palestinian communities have faced repeated settler violence, including arson attacks, land seizures, and armed assaults, often with the protection or complicity of Israeli forces.
In July, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled that Israel’s prolonged occupation of Palestinian territories, including the West Bank and East Jerusalem, is illegal under international law. The court called for the immediate evacuation of all Israeli settlements, which are considered a major obstacle to peace efforts. However, Israeli authorities have rejected the ruling, continuing settlement expansion despite international condemnation.
The situation remains dire, with humanitarian organizations warning of escalating violence, forced displacement, and deteriorating living conditions for Palestinians in the occupied territories.
