Israeli forces arrested at least 17 Palestinians, including two women and a child, during coordinated raids across the West Bank, according to local officials.
The arrests were carried out in multiple locations, including Nablus, Bethlehem, Hebron, and Ramallah.
The Prisoners’ Media Office said Israeli troops raided homes, searched properties, and damaged belongings during the operations.
Town Sealed Off as Movement Comes to a Halt
In a separate development, Israeli forces sealed off the town of Turmus Ayya, northeast of Ramallah, blocking all entrances with earth mounds.
Local official Abdullah Awad said the town was completely isolated.
“Israeli forces stormed the town at dawn with military bulldozers and closed all roads, including main, secondary, and agricultural routes, leaving no access in or out,” Awad said.
He added that daily life had been severely disrupted, with movement “completely paralyzed,” affecting schools and essential services.
Awad also reported that Israeli occupiers attacked nearby areas, uprooted olive trees, and prevented farmers from accessing their land. The town has an estimated population of about 4,000 residents.
Home Demolished Amid Rising Violence
Elsewhere, Israeli forces demolished a two-story Palestinian home in Shuqba, west of Ramallah, citing a lack of a construction permit.
Local council head Adnan Shalash confirmed the demolition.
“Israeli forces, accompanied by bulldozers, stormed the town and began demolishing the home,” he said, noting the property included a swimming pool and playground.
He added that troops fired live ammunition toward residential areas during the operation, though no injuries were reported.
According to the official Colonization and Wall Resistance Commission, Israeli authorities carried out 37 demolition operations in April alone, targeting 78 Palestinian structures.
The escalation in the West Bank has intensified since the start of the war in Gaza in October 2023, with Palestinian officials reporting at least 1,155 deaths, about 11,750 injuries, and nearly 22,000 arrests.
Approximately 750,000 Israeli settlers currently live across settlements and outposts in the West Bank, including around 250,000 in East Jerusalem, which the United Nations considers part of the occupied Palestinian territories.
