On Thursday, Israeli military forces conducted a major operation at the Qalandiya refugee camp, injuring 51 Palestinians. The Jerusalem Governorate confirmed the assault, which also saw the destruction of commercial shops near the Qalandiya checkpoint. As part of the same military activity, the nearby town of Kafr Aqab was placed under a curfew. Roads linking the area to Jerusalem were sealed off, cutting off access and heightening tensions in the region.
The Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) reported that 35 people required hospitalization after enduring severe beatings during the raid. One individual was struck by a rubber-coated steel bullet, while six others experienced injuries from tear gas exposure. Despite being prohibited from entering the area overnight, medical teams managed to rescue a number of patients, including those needing urgent dialysis. Journalists on the scene were targeted with stun grenades and told to leave the camp’s entrance.
Detentions and Field Interrogations
According to local Palestinian reports, dozens of individuals, including women and children, were apprehended by Israeli forces and taken into field interrogations. These detentions occurred in homes that were converted into temporary detention centers. The same day, Israeli troops also launched an operation in the city of Jenin, where one Palestinian was shot and another suffered injuries from violence.
Recent months have seen a sharp rise in both Israeli military operations and violent acts by settlers in the West Bank. This surge is accompanied by a significant increase in the destruction of Palestinian homes and the illegal confiscation of land. International human rights groups have documented over 11,000 incidents of Israeli military and settler violence in the occupied territory just in the first half of this year. Palestinian monitors have documented more than 11,000 attacks across the West Bank since January. As a direct result, more than 2,300 Palestinians have been forced to abandon their homes due to escalating violence and movement restrictions.
Settler Violence and Government Complicity
A United Nations-appointed commission of inquiry found in June that Israeli authorities have consistently failed to prevent or investigate settler attacks. In certain instances, the commission concluded that the government actually facilitated violence by providing military support, weapons, and funding to settlers. The findings further revealed how Israel has actively restricted the operations of UNRWA, the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees, particularly in occupied East Jerusalem. This included the demolition of several UNRWA facilities in the region, notably near Qalandiya. The United Nations Human Rights Office (OHCHR) has said settlers, alongside Israeli forces, “frequently attack families, burn mosques and destroy and confiscate property”. It said movement restrictions have become “tighter than ever”. In late July, OHCHR spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani said it was imperative for countries to “bring an end to the Israeli occupation” of the West Bank. “With attacks by Israeli settlers, and the creation of settlements and outposts hitting an all-time high, third States must act urgently and in unison to halt the continuing killing and dispossession of the Palestinian people,” she said.
Since assuming control over civilian affairs in the occupied West Bank, Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has authorized, legalized, or re-established over 104 illegal settlements, as well as 160 agricultural outposts. Meanwhile, Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has launched state-backed “civil defense” programs that have distributed thousands of firearms to settlers. These actions have intensified settler violence, drawing widespread condemnation.
International Responses and Sanctions
Governments in Western countries, including the United Kingdom, Canada, and France, have responded by imposing sanctions on individual settlers and high-ranking Israeli officials, such as Smotrich, for their roles in the violence. However, the U.S. government under President Donald Trump took a different stance. Upon returning to office last year, Trump issued an executive order that rescinded certain U.S. sanctions previously imposed against Israeli settlers accused of attacking Palestinians.
The situation in the occupied West Bank remains volatile, with growing international concern over human rights violations and the ongoing expansion of illegal settlements. These developments have only further complicated peace efforts and highlighted the urgent need for a comprehensive solution to the conflict.