West Bank: Israeli forces arrest Hamas leader, detain scores as new settler outposts established

Israeli forces on Monday carried out mass arrests of Palestinians in various areas across the occupied West Bank, wounding civilians and raiding homes, while Israeli settlers also built new illegal outposts.

The Palestinian Prisoners’ Club issued a statement confirming that Israeli forces detained at least 40 people in the latest raids, including children and former detainees.

The group further noted that the arrests were not contained to one area, but rather spanned across Ramallah, Jericho, Salfit, Nablus, Hebron, Bethlehem and Tulkarem. It added that many of the detentions also came following raids on the homes of the individuals.

According to The New Arab’s sister site, Al-Araby Al-Jadeed, among those arrested was Jamal al-Tawil, a Hamas leader based in Ramallah. Al-Tawil served as the mayor of al-Bireh city and was one of Hamas’ candidates for the 2021 parliamentary elections which were blocked by Israel.

The 62-year-old had spent over 18 years in Israeli prison, where he was subjected to maltreatment and poor conditions, including torture, abuse, and the denial of medical care.

He has faced repeated administrative detention since 1989, when he was imprisoned for long periods of time without charge, Al-Araby Al-Jadeed reported.

In Hebron, a Palestinian child was seriously wounded after Israeli forces launched a sound grenade, which struck him in the head, the Palestinian Wafa news agency reported.

The child has been identified as 15-year-old student Nazih Iyad Awad, who was hit on the head as he was leaving his home in Wadi al-Simiya. Photographs of him shared online showed his head covered in bloodied bandages.

He has been taken to hospital for treatment; however, reports state that his injuries are critical.  

Meanwhile, groups of Israeli settlers on Monday started establishing a new settlement outpost in the al-Wajih al-Shami area in the town of Kafr Qaddum, located in east of Qalqilya in the northern West Bank.

The settlers harassed local Palestinians and continued building the outpost under the protection of Israeli forces, reports said.

Hassan Malihat, the general supervisor of the Al-Baydar human rights organisation, said that the expansion of the settlements marks Israel’s attempts at "seizing more land".

He added that Israeli forces demolished two homes in the village of Marj Ghazal, north of Jericho.

The two-story home belongs to Nadim Abu Jabet and his family, while the other home belongs to his brother, Nour Abu Jaber. Since the demolition, the individuals have been left homeless.

In the northern West Bank, in an area west of Salfit, Israeli forces also demolished two greenhouses which were used to support agricultural activity in the area.

The latest developments come as Israeli settlers continue to harass Palestinian farmers on their land during olive harvesting season.

The establishment of seven new outposts east of Hebron have prevented residents from accessing their land, while several civilians have been stopped at gunpoint, local media reported.

"Dozens of settlers are scattered among the olive trees, cutting them down, and inhabiting the old caves in the area, while the landowners are prevented from approaching at gunpoint," local resident Yousef al-Shalaldeh told Al-Araby Al-Jadeed.

"What happened is not an exception, as just a few days ago, on the 23rd of this month, the occupation forces expelled dozens of farmers from their lands despite obtaining prior official coordination from the Palestinian Liaison to enter them," he continued.

Since the start of Israel’s war on Gaza in October 2023, there has been a sharp uptick in arrests and attacks against Palestinians in the West Bank.