In a recent development, Israel has detained over 60 members of the militant organization Hamas in overnight raids across the West Bank. Among those arrested is a prominent Hamas spokesman, Hassan Yousef. The Israeli military operation in the Nour Shams refugee camp in Tulkarem, West Bank, also resulted in the killing of several Palestinians. Yousef, who has been arrested on numerous occasions in the past, has spent a total of 24 years in Israeli jails on various charges. The Israeli crackdown on Palestinians comes amidst escalating violence in Gaza, which has spilled over to the West Bank.
The Palestinian Prisoners Club, an NGO representing Palestinian detainees, reported that Yousef was detained in his home in Beitunia. The arrests are part of a wider campaign by Israeli security forces to apprehend Palestinians suspected of terrorist activities. To date, about 850 Palestinians, including lawmakers, journalists, and former detainees, have been detained since the recent attack by Hamas in Israel. Mustafa Barghouti, the General Secretary of the Palestinian National Initiative, expressed concern about the arrests, highlighting the lack of due legal process and the increasing number of Palestinians held in Israeli jails.
The Israeli settlements in the West Bank, considered illegal by most of the world under international law, are a contentious issue between Israel and the Palestinians. Israel views the West Bank as “disputed territory” and defends its settlement policy as legal. The ongoing conflict in Gaza has further strained tensions in the West Bank, leading to clashes between Palestinians and Israeli forces. The Palestinian Red Crescent has reported difficulties in accessing injured individuals due to the actions of Israeli occupying forces. The situation remains highly volatile, with both sides engaged in a cycle of violence and retribution.
