Israel arrests dozens of Palestinians in West Bank amid settler attacks

Israeli military forces have intensified operations throughout the occupied West Bank in response to a shooting incident that resulted in the deaths of four Palestinians and two Israeli soldiers. The operation, which Israeli authorities have characterized as extensive, began with nearly 50 arrests in the village of Tal, located southwest of Nablus, where the initial shooting occurred. During these arrests, Israeli forces conducted raids on approximately 70 homes in the area.

Following the Friday shooting near the Havat Gilad settlement, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz authorized a broad military operation across Palestinian villages in the West Bank. The crackdown has extended beyond the initial incident location, with additional arrests reported in the northern city of Jenin and various towns throughout the governorate. Military personnel have also conducted raids in Tubas in the northeast and the Far'a refugee camp to the south, deploying large numbers of troops and conducting home searches across multiple neighborhoods.

According to the Palestinian Health Ministry, at least 87 Palestinians have been killed by Israelis in West Bank attacks since the beginning of the year, with 21 of these deaths attributed to settlers. International observers have raised concerns about the escalation, with UN Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese characterizing the attacks as pogroms and calling for an arms embargo and trade restrictions against Israel. Israeli human rights organizations have similarly urged international intervention to address what they describe as state-backed settler violence that has intensified since 2023.