Israel detains over 70 Palestinians in West Bank after deadly clashes

Israeli forces arrested more than 70 suspects across the West Bank overnight Friday and into Saturday. The detentions followed clashes that resulted in the deaths of two Israeli soldiers and four Palestinian villagers. The army maintained a presence in the village of Tell, in the northern West Bank, the site of Friday's confrontations. Palestinian accounts described inspections that included raids on a hospital in Nablus, a frequent flashpoint in the territory. Ghassan Barkat, director of the Specialized Hospital in Nablus, reported that "more than 50 soldiers and armed agents stormed the hospital, terrorizing patients." He stated that on Friday, military personnel detained, insulted, and bound staff and patients, searched hospital departments, and arrested a severely wounded man. "This should not happen in a health institution," Barkat said, noting the presence of women and children. The Israeli military issued a statement that did not mention the hospital but indicated over 300 locations were searched. They reported detaining individuals described as affiliates of the armed group Hamas, arms traffickers, and "terrorists." Details surrounding Friday's events remain unclear. However, Israeli media reports and interviews with local Palestinian officials suggest a group of settlers entered Tell and were confronted by residents fearing an attack. The village is designated as Area B under the 1993 Oslo Accords, meaning it is off-limits to Israelis. The Palestinian Ministry of Health stated that Israeli soldiers shot and killed four Palestinians in Tell, while the army reported two soldiers dead, one of whom was a settler serving in a local defense squad. Health officials reported two other Israelis and four more Palestinians were injured. The Israeli military announced Saturday it had detained 11 suspects in Tell.

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More than 50 soldiers and armed agents stormed the hospital, terrorizing patients.