Ben-Gvir storms Palestinian city as Israel forces carry out arrest campaign

Israel’s far-right National Security Minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, with the help of the Israeli and border police, stormed the Palestinian-majority city of Umm al-Fahm on Sunday, as Israeli forces carried out raids and detention campaigns across the region.

The minister knocked on Palestinian homes, demanding building permits. He also called for Israeli authorities to demolish more Palestinian homes and facilities, and enforce stricter policies against the city.

This comes as dozens of Palestinians were detained after Israeli forces carried out raids across the occupied West Bank over the weekend, while Israeli settlers carried out assaults on civilians and attacked farmland.

Three Palestinians, including a teenager, were detained in Bethlehem after the army raided a village in the area, while settlers stole several sheep belonging to Palestinians, Wafa reports.

At the same time, in a series of overnight raids till early Sunday, Israeli forces detained several Palestinians, including a woman and a young girl. The forces stormed a neighbourhood in Ramallah, tightening military restrictions at entrances and detaining a couple after raiding their home, while in Jenin, three Palestinians were detained after their homes were raided.

Two more Palestinians were arrested in Hebron in the same way, and the army also stormed the Fawwar refugee camp in the area for the second time.

Residents in Hebron also protested for the release of its mayor, Tayseer Abu Sneineh, after Israeli forces raided his home and detained him.

The forces also bulldozed land southwest of Salfit in the occupied territory to expand a settler outpost, which is illegal under international law.

They also issued demolition notices for homes and shops north of Jerusalem along a road connecting checkpoints, giving residents only three days to comply.

The notices align with the Israeli government’s plan to expand a settler-only highway around Jerusalem to link the surrounding settlements with each other while severing ties between Palestinian neighbourhoods.

Settler attacks

Israeli settlers conducted attacks in Nablus, Ramallah and Hebron. While trying to prevent settlers from raiding a town, Israeli settlers opened fire on them and their property on Sunday. Settlers also attacked a Bedouin family after setting up a new illegal outpost in the area.

While in Hebron, two Palestinians were injured by settler gunfire after opening fire on homes and setting fire to agricultural land, with protection from Israeli troops. Settlers also stormed and vandalised the Hanbali Mosque in Nablus.

At the same time, Israeli settlers also stormed the al-Auja community north of Jericho, in raids that are taking place almost daily. The settlers filmed and harassed civilians inside the community.

Israel’s attacks on the West Bank have killed over 1,000 Palestinians since October 2023, including over children, according to the Palestinian Prisoners’ Media Office (ASRA).

From October 2023 to the start of September, Israeli forces have arrested and imprisoned over 11,000 Palestinians, where at least 77 have died while in prison.

Editor's note: An earlier version of this article said Ben-Gvir had stormed an occupied West Bank city — this has been corrected and updated.