Israeli forces besiege occupied West Bank village, block ambulances

Israeli forces on Saturday continued to besiege the village of al-Mughayyir in the occupied West Bank, alongside a campaign of raids, arrests, and vandalism by soldiers.

The incursions follow claims that a Jewish settler was injured in a shooting attack at a settlement outpost built on the grounds of al-Mughayyir.

Al-Mughayyir village council deputy head Marzouq Abu Naim told The New Arab's Arabic-language sister site, Al-Araby Al-Jadeed, that Israeli forces have continued to completely seal all entrances to the village, while also establishing military checkpoints and forcing key businesses, including bakeries and pharmacies, to close.

Ambulances were also blocked from leaving or entering the village, with pregnant women forced to walk to the checkpoints and go to neighbouring villages for treatment.

Several homes were raided, with soldiers looting money, jewellery, and taking vehicles, according to Abu Naim.

Israeli forces have also uprooted thousands of olive trees near the settlement road that surrounds the village, with the army sending notice to the village council that the trees would be destroyed on "security" grounds.

According to Abu Naim, Israel is carrying out a form of "collective revenge" against the villagers, after images and footage of the army and settler uprooting activity were circulated widely.

Israeli forces carried out raids in other areas of the occupied West Bank at dawn on Saturday, arresting several Palestinians. 

Local sources in Jenin told the Palestinian Wafa news agency that a husband and wife were detained and interrogated by Israeli forces to pressure their son Ahmed to surrender.

Another raid also took place on the Old City of Nablus, with soldiers storming the home of prisoner Adel Dweikat.

This article is based on a report from The New Arab's Arabic-language sister site, Al-Araby Al-Jadeed.