Key facts
- Israeli forces conducted a large-scale operation in the Qalandiya refugee camp in occupied East Jerusalem.
- The operation involved dozens of military vehicles, home raids, arrests, and the demolition of a car wash.
- One Palestinian was injured by a military vehicle, and a journalist was beaten while covering the event.
- The Israeli military stated the operation targeted 'terrorist elements' and 'infrastructure'.
Israeli forces launched a large-scale operation in the Qalandiya refugee camp in occupied East Jerusalem on Wednesday, with dozens of military vehicles storming the area before dawn.
According to Palestinian sources, soldiers raided the headquarters of the camp's Popular Committee, forcibly removed residents from their homes, and ordered one family to evacuate. Dawn prayers were reportedly prevented in all of the camp's mosques. A Palestinian man sustained leg injuries after being struck by a military vehicle, and journalist Muhammad Sumrin was severely beaten while covering the raid. Several Palestinians were reportedly assaulted during arrests.
Eyewitnesses reported that soldiers breached a wall to allow bulldozers to enter and demolish a car wash on Almatar Street. Leaflets were distributed warning residents against confronting Israeli forces.
The Israeli military's coordinator for activities in the West Bank, Cogat, stated on Facebook that the operation targeted "terrorist elements, terrorist infrastructure, and the phenomenon of weapons possession and trafficking, which poses a threat to the security of the entire region." The report noted there are no known recent attacks against Israelis originating from the camp.
Israeli media quoted security sources suggesting the military was considering expanding attacks on other refugee camps in the occupied West Bank following previous raids in Jenin and Tulkarm. Qalandiya camp is home to over 15,000 Palestinian refugees and has been a frequent target of Israeli military raids.