Zionist Forces and Settlers Intensify Operations in West Bank, Increasing Palestinian Displacements and Casualties
Zionist forces have escalated their operations in the occupied West Bank, resulting in the death of a Palestinian and causing the displacement of residents from their shelters in Jenin.
The Palestinian Health Ministry has reported that Israeli forces fatally shot 24-year-old Suleiman Fawwaz Manasrah from Qabatiya, located near the controversial Homesh settlement south of Jenin, on Sunday night. According to the ministry, his body is currently being retained by Israeli authorities.
Witnesses noted intense gunfire preceding the discovery of Manasrah’s body close to the settlement, which occupies land taken from Silat ad-Dhahr. Prior to this, Israeli forces had closed major roads in the vicinity of Jenin and Nablus following a reported shooting incident.
The death of Manasrah has increased the Palestinian death toll in the Jenin governorate to 39 since the onset of the Israeli military campaign in the city.
Israeli forces are reported to have detained a young individual during an overnight operation in Balata refugee camp, located near Nablus.
In a coordinated operation, simultaneous raids were conducted on Fawwar camp and Wadi Abu Katila in Hebron. However, further information regarding additional arrests remains unspecified.
Palestinians Compelled to Vacate Jenin Shelter
According to AFP, numerous Palestinians have sought refuge at the Arab American University campus in Jenin following Israel’s military siege of the Jenin refugee camp located in the occupied West Bank.
Among the displaced is Mohammed Shalabi, age 53, who evacuated with his family. He stated, “It’s known that the army demolishes everything—homes, infrastructure, vehicles,” as he recounted Israel’s ongoing offensive, now entering its third month.
Israeli forces, backed by a bulldozer, conducted a raid on al-Minya village located southeast of Bethlehem on Sunday evening. They reportedly blocked the western entrance near a secondary school using earth mounds, as confirmed by a local official.
In a significant intensification of its operations, Israel has conducted a raid on the village, heightening its efforts to address the recent surge in attacks targeting farmers and shepherds. The operation also follows the ongoing confiscation of agricultural produce in the area.
**Uptick in Settler-Perpetrated Violence**
Israeli settlers reportedly damaged Palestinian agricultural lands in the Wadi Qana area, located near Deir Istiya northwest of Salfit, on Sunday night, as stated by local activist Nathmi Salman.
The perpetrators have dismantled agricultural machinery and removed olive trees, a repeated strategy that Salman characterizes as part of a larger effort to forcibly annex Palestinian land and alter the landscape.
Since the onset of the Gaza conflict in October 2023, over 950 Palestinians have lost their lives due to actions by Israeli forces and settlers, with more than 7,000 others sustaining injuries in the West Bank.
Israeli forces have significantly escalated the demolition of Palestinian homes and structures throughout the occupied West Bank, initiating one of the most assertive campaigns in recent years.
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) has issued a warning regarding Israel’s military actions, stating that these operations have resulted in the displacement of 40,000 Palestinians. The agency has also accused the Israeli government of engaging in systematic annexation of the territory.
On April 3, UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk characterized the circumstances as “extremely alarming,” underscoring the increasing repression and violence.
