Israeli forces detain 7 Palestinians in West Bank, close community association in Jerusalem

Israeli authorities detained at least seven Palestinians during raids across the occupied West Bank on Tuesday and ordered a six-month closure of a Palestinian community association in East Jerusalem. Israeli forces raided the city of Al-Bireh and the village of Burqa, east of Ramallah, and searched several Palestinian homes, the official Wafa news agency reported. Four Palestinians from the village of Al-Mughayyir were detained during the raids.

Israeli forces also arrested two Palestinian men from the village of Siniriya, as well as another man from the town of Habla, south of Qalqilya. Separately, Israeli forces raided the towns of Attil and Allar, north of Tulkarem, early Tuesday. According to local sources cited by Wafa, military vehicles moved through streets and neighborhoods in both towns, while troops raided and searched homes in Attil and damaged their contents. The forces also held several Palestinians and took them to a residential building for questioning before releasing them, with no arrests reported in the two towns.

The Israeli army conducts near-daily arrest campaigns across the occupied West Bank. The incursions often involve assaults on family members, as well as the destruction and vandalism of household belongings. Around 9,350 Palestinian prisoners, including 350 children and 90 women, are held in Israeli prisons, according to Palestinian figures. ​​​​​​​Human rights organizations say detainees are subjected to torture, starvation and medical neglect, which have led to the deaths of dozens of prisoners.

In occupied East Jerusalem, Israeli authorities enforced a six-month closure order against the Burj al-Laqlaq Community Association in the Old City, according to an Anadolu correspondent. Extremist Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir alleged in an order posted at the association’s entrance that it operates “under the sponsorship of the Palestinian Authority or on its behalf,” a claim the organization denies. It is the second closure order Ben-Gvir has issued against the Palestinian association since February.

The organization had reopened after a previous six-month closure. The association condemned the renewed closure as “arbitrary,” saying it had resumed educational, sports and social programs aimed at supporting children, women and young people after reopening. “We carried out this work based on our mission to serve the people of Jerusalem and away from any political activity or polarization,” it said. The association stressed that the repeated closure was part of a “systematic policy” aimed at isolating residents of East Jerusalem’s Old City.