The Israeli occupation forces (IOF) and settlers escalated their attacks across several areas of the West Bank early on Friday, carrying out raids and arresting approximately 20 Palestinians, including director of the Ibrahimi Mosque in al-Khalil Mutaz Hafez Abu Sneineh.
The attacks also targeted Palestinian farmers and agricultural land in Ramallah and Salfit, where IOF fired tear gas at olive harvesters and settlers set olive trees ablaze during the harvest season.
In al-Khalil, IOF troops arrested nine Palestinians after raiding several neighborhoods, storming homes, conducting searches, and damaging residents’ belongings.
The arrests included Mutaz Hafez Abu Sneineh, director of the Ibrahimi Mosque, and Hammam Abu Markhiya, head of the Mosque’s custodial staff. Both were arrested at their workplace inside the Mosque compound.
In Qalqilya Governorate, Israeli forces raided the village of Kafr Qaddum, east of Qalqilya, and arrested brothers Mahmoud and Mohammed Amjad Shtaywi, along with Samir Shtaywi and Murad Shtaywi.
During a separate raid on Qalqilya city, the IOF arrested five former Palestinian prisoners.
In Nablus Governorate, Israeli forces stormed the town of Beita, south of Nablus, raided several homes, searched them, and damaged their contents before arresting two former prisoners.
In Tulkarem, Israeli forces arrested a young Palestinian man near Shuweika Roundabout.