As Israelis headed to the polls on Tuesday, security forces launched an operation in the Nablus area. According to the IDF, troops working alongside the Border Police's West Bank units and the Shin Bet security agency are conducting counterterrorism operations as part of a broader campaign planned for the coming days. The military said the operation would include the arrest of wanted terror suspects, searches of buildings where intelligence indicates weapons may be stored and the demolition of memorials honoring terrorists.
At this stage, the operation does not involve evacuating residents of Nablus or surrounding villages, as was done in Hebron following last week's terrorist attack that killed Staff Sgt. Ron Yonatan Roytman and Sgt. Yuval Shai Svilem. However, the operation is expected to continue for several days. Meanwhile, Palestinians report that IDF forces have already demolished 10 memorials commemorating terrorists, including in the villages of Rujeib, Azmut, Madama and Iraq Burin, as well as the town of Beit Furik.
The operation was launched as troops from the Paratroopers Brigade and the Maglan commando unit continue their operations in Hebron. The IDF aims to maintain a presence on the ground and prevent terrorist infrastructure from becoming established. Ahead of the election, security officials are concerned about attempts to carry out additional attacks. ynet military analyst Ron Ben-Yishai reported that a disagreement between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir over the continuation of the Hebron operation is among the factors behind the tensions between the two in recent days.
Ynet puts the army's terrorist label on the demolished memorials inside a Palestinian report, although only the military calls them that. It calls the Hebron expulsions evacuating residents and never says the West Bank is occupied.
Labels people on one side's word
Serious
“memorials commemorating terrorists”
Why this matters
Ynet reports what Palestinians say but describes the demolished memorials as "commemorating terrorists". That is the army's label placed inside the Palestinian account.
The impression it gives
Palestinians themselves confirm that the dead commemorated in Rujeib, Azmut, Madama, Iraq Burin and Beit Furik were terrorists.
The context
The only source for the terrorist label is the military's statement. The article names none of the dead and gives no basis for calling them terrorists.
How we know
Elsewhere in the article“the demolition of memorials honoring terrorists”
Palestinians report that Israeli forces have already demolished 10 memorials in the villages of Rujeib, Azmut, Madama and Iraq Burin and the town of Beit Furik. The army describes the memorials as honouring terrorists.
Uses the occupation's words
Serious
“evacuating residents of Nablus or surrounding villages, as was done in Hebron”
Why this matters
Ynet calls what happened to Hebron's Palestinians "evacuating residents", a word that suggests a protective measure.
The impression it gives
People in Hebron were moved out for their own safety.
The context
Other outlets report the forced displacement of hundreds of Palestinians and a mass displacement operation, with widespread destruction in the neighbourhoods the army targeted.
For now the operation does not involve expelling residents of Nablus or nearby villages, as Israeli forces did in Hebron, where hundreds of Palestinians were displaced after last week's attack.
Hedges the documented record
Minor
“security forces launched an operation in the Nablus area”
Why this matters
Ynet describes a military raid on Nablus as an operation by "security forces" and never says the West Bank is occupied.
The impression it gives
This is routine policing of Israeli territory.
The context
Nablus is in the occupied West Bank. The ICJ has ruled the occupation unlawful, and the other outlets covering the same operation say the West Bank is occupied.
How we know
On the recordThe International Court of Justice's July 2024 advisory opinion found Israel's occupation of the West Bank and East Jerusalem unlawful.icj-cij.org (opens in a new tab)