Israeli forces launched a large-scale military raid on the Qalandiya refugee camp north of occupied East Jerusalem on Wednesday, injuring at least 51 Palestinians and arresting dozens more, according to Palestinian medical sources and the Jerusalem Governorate. The operation, one of the most significant incursions into the camp in recent months, involved home demolitions and the closure of key roads.
The Palestinian Red Crescent Society reported that its crews treated 51 people with varying injuries and evacuated several patients from the camp during the operation. The Jerusalem Governorate confirmed that Israeli forces demolished shops near the Qalandiya military checkpoint and closed the main road to traffic, bringing movement in the area to a halt.
The Palestinian Prisoners Club, a non-governmental organization tracking detention cases, said Israeli forces arrested and interrogated more than 60 people during the operation, including children and women. The mass arrests drew immediate condemnation from Palestinian authorities.
The Palestinian Presidency condemned what it called an “aggression,” describing the demolition of homes and property, the obstruction of ambulance crews, and the siege of the camp as a “flagrant violation of international law and international agreements.” The presidency called on the international community to intervene to stop the ongoing military operations in the West Bank.
The raid comes amid a broader uptick in Israeli military operations and settler violence across the West Bank. In recent weeks, Israeli forces have conducted multiple raids in refugee camps and towns near Jerusalem and Ramallah, part of what the military describes as ongoing security operations to apprehend suspected militants and seize weapons.
The operation at Qalandiya, one of the largest Palestinian refugee camps in the West Bank with a population estimated at over 15,000, drew international attention. Eight nations including the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Jordan, Indonesia, Pakistan, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt issued a joint statement condemning ongoing Israeli violations in the occupied territories.
The joint statement specifically condemned the targeting of healthcare facilities and medical infrastructure, attacks on civilian infrastructure, and the continued loss of civilian lives. The signatories warned that the continuous Israeli military actions violate international law and threaten to reignite escalation and deepen the humanitarian crisis across the Palestinian territories.
Sources: Al Jazeera, Xinhua, IMEMC
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