Israeli forces launch West Bank raids, seal off towns after Jerusalem attack
Israeli forces launch West Bank raids, seal off towns after Jerusalem attack
Israeli troops have launched a wave of raids across Palestinian towns northwest of occupied East Jerusalem following a deadly shooting in the city on Monday that left six Israelis dead.
The attackers, identified as Muthanna Amr and Mohammed Taha from Qatanna and Qubeiba towns, were killed at the scene.
In the hours after the shooting, Israeli forces stormed their home towns, raiding properties, detaining relatives and questioning dozens of residents.
Local officials said homes were ransacked and families subjected to teargas and sound grenades, though no injuries were reported.
Diaa al-Faqih, head of Qatanna’s village council, told Middle East Eye that troops “terrorised” the family of one of the suspects before arresting his father and brother.
He described the raids as “relentless”, with soldiers withdrawing and returning repeatedly under a tight military cordon.
"The raids were carried out almost hourly, as they withdrew and then resumed their raids amid a tight siege on the town and neighbouring towns," he explained.
Roads linking several towns in the area have also been sealed off, including the Biddu Tunnel, the main access point for more than 70,000 Palestinians, leaving many stranded.
"Among those trapped were school students who have not been allowed to return to their homes,” Faqih said.
He added that classes may be suspended if the lockdown continues.
Elsewhere, Israeli forces also stormed the towns of Biddu and Abu Dis, firing live rounds and teargas, and reportedly damaging homes.
People stranded
In the wake of Monday’s shooting, the Israeli military announced the deployment of additional forces across the occupied West Bank.
It also sealed off towns around Jerusalem and Ramallah, closing checkpoints and locking iron gates at key entrances, effectively trapping tens of thousands of Palestinians and stranding hundreds of vehicles.
'I have been trapped here without food, drink, a bathroom, or any other necessities of life'
- Samia Abu Ali, Palestinian mother
The lockdown affected multiple areas, including the Atara and Ein Siniya checkpoints north of Ramallah, Beit Ur in the west, and Jaba' in the south.
New iron gates were also installed at village entrances west of the city, such as Shuqba and Rantis.
With roads blocked and movement heavily restricted, local mosques in surrounding villages began opening their doors to stranded travellers, offering shelter and food.
Samia Abu Ali, from the town of Aroura north of Ramallah, became stuck at the Atara checkpoint while returning home from work.
She told MEE she was trapped from 3pm “without food, drink, a bathroom, or any other necessities of life.
“The street is completely closed, and soldiers are stationed at the checkpoint, preventing any movement,” she said.
She added that her children had been waiting at home, crying throughout the evening.
Two boys shot dead in Jenin
Elsewhere on Monday, Israeli forces killed two Palestinian boys in the Jenin refugee camp, which has been under military siege for nearly eight months.
Local sources reported that Israeli soldiers surrounded a group of residents in the al-Bashar quarter of the camp as they attempted to reach their homes to collect personal belongings and assess damage.
According to witnesses, troops opened fire on the group, killing two children, Mohammed Alawneh and Islam Mjarmi, and seriously wounding two other young men. A young girl was also injured after falling while being chased by soldiers.
The sources added that several residents were arrested and taken to a military post inside the camp.
Israel launched a large-scale assault on the northern West Bank in January, targeting areas including Jenin, Tulkarm and Tubas.
The ongoing offensive has destroyed dozens of homes and displaced tens of thousands of people.
