By: The Trek News Desk
Tensions continue to escalate in the occupied West Bank as multiple Palestinians were injured in separate incidents involving Israeli forces and Israeli settlers in the Hebron region. The developments come amid the ongoing war in Gaza, with violence also surging across West Bank communities.
According to media reports, Israeli troops carried out a late-night raid on Tuesday in the town of Ad-Dhahiriya, located about 24 kilometres southwest of Hebron. During the operation, soldiers reportedly fired live ammunition and rubber-coated bullets. Several residents sustained injuries after being struck in the lower body by rubber bullets.
In a separate incident, dozens of Israeli settlers stormed the village of Khirbet Susiya in the Masafer Yatta area, south of Hebron. Local sources said four Palestinians were wounded in the attack. The settlers allegedly set fire to six structures and a vehicle, causing significant property damage.
Residents say repeated assaults have forced many Palestinian families to leave the village. Established in the late 19th century, Khirbet Susiya is now home to only around 30 remaining families due to ongoing tensions and displacement pressures.
Another reported attack took place in Masafer Bani Naim, east of Hebron, where settlers, reportedly under the presence of Israeli forces, targeted the home of a Palestinian man currently held in Israeli detention. The attackers allegedly stole 30 sheep, killed another, and slashed the tyres of his vehicle. Sources indicate that the same individual had previously faced similar assaults.
Meanwhile, Israeli forces conducted raids in the town of Sinjil, northeast of Ramallah. According to local accounts, troops entered several homes, damaged property, broke doors, and reportedly assaulted residents. Witnesses also reported the use of drones overhead, along with stun grenades and flares during the operation.
In another development, Israeli authorities began demolishing a building and several shops at the entrance of Anza village, located south of Jenin, using bulldozers.
Data from the United Nations indicates that at least 1,094 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank by Israeli forces and settlers since October 2023.
In a recent report, the United Nations Human Rights Council expressed concern over Israeli policies in the West Bank, citing what it described as excessive use of force and the demolition of Palestinian homes. The report warned that such measures appear aimed at displacing Palestinian communities and raised alarms over increasing attacks and forced transfers in both Gaza and the West Bank.
UN documentation further states that more than 3,700 settler-related attacks have been recorded since October 2023, surpassing the total reported over the previous decade. In January alone, nearly 700 Palestinians were reportedly displaced due to settler violence and harassment, marking one of the highest monthly displacement figures in recent months.
The continued unrest in the West Bank has deepened concerns over regional instability and the growing humanitarian challenges facing Palestinian communities.
Source: News Agencies
