Israeli Forces Raid West Bank Camp, Eight Injured

Israeli forces conducted a raid on the Qalandiya refugee camp in the West Bank on Thursday, leading to tensions and injuries. The Palestinian Red Crescent reported that eight people were wounded during the operation.

Journalists from Agence France-Presse observed approximately ten military jeeps entering the camp, located a few kilometers north of Jerusalem. Access for both journalists and residents was reportedly blocked. An Israeli military official stated the operation's objective was "to prevent terror attacks and apprehend wanted individuals."

COGAT, the Israeli Defense Ministry body responsible for Palestinian civilian affairs, emphasized that the camp would not be permitted to transform into a center for terrorists or criminals. According to Mohammad Aslan, a spokesperson for the Qalandiya camp's management committee, the army arrested at least 20 people. Soldiers were seen taking positions on the roofs of several houses.

Photographs released by the Palestinian Authority depicted large stones and debris in the camp's alleys, along with scattered furniture and belongings in a searched home. This raid occurs amidst Palestinian concerns over a 2023 Israeli government plan to build a new settlement of 9,000 homes near Qalandiya, a plan that has not yet been finalized but is feared by residents to be preceded by such military operations.

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We will not allow the camp to be turned into a center for terrorism or a refuge for terrorists and criminals.