IOF raid West Bank towns, detain Palestinians amid settler violence

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Al Mayadeen + Agencies
18 Jun 2025 00:59

Israeli occupation forces have detained Palestinians and raided towns across the occupied West Bank, while settlers escalated attacks on Palestinian property

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Israeli military vehicles drive into the Askar camp for Palestinian refugees east of Nablus in the occupied West Bank during a raid on June 16, 2025 (Photo by JAAFAR ASHTIYEH / AFP)

Israeli occupation forces detained several Palestinians and raided homes in Khirbet Yarza, east of the city of Tubas in the northeastern occupied West Bank, Palestinian media reported on Tuesday.

In Beit Lahm, Israeli forces stormed the al-Khader area, deploying around the Grand Mosque, the al-Bawwaba and Sabri districts, and along the main road. They fired stun grenades and detained several young men after checking their identification cards.

Escalation of settler violence in Salfit and Beit Lahm

Israeli settlers continued attacks on Palestinian properties, vandalizing an irrigation network and agricultural lands in the al-Matwi area of the town of Bruqin, west of Salfit in the northwestern West Bank. In a separate incident, another settler blocked a main road in the town of Tuqu', southeast of Beit Lahm.

According to the Wall and Settlement Resistance Commission, settlers carried out 415 attacks against Palestinians and their properties across the occupied West Bank during May.

Administrative detention orders surge in May

The Palestinian Commission of Detainees’ Affairs and the Palestinian Prisoners Society reported on Tuesday that Israeli authorities had issued and renewed administrative detention orders against 81 detainees.

"Israel's" administrative detention policy allows authorities to detain Palestinians without charge or trial for renewable periods of up to six months, based on secret evidence.

Widely criticized by human rights organizations, the policy is often used without disclosing the alleged offenses to the detainees or their lawyers, denying them a fair legal process.

Critics argue that it violates international law and is frequently employed as a tool of political repression.

Prison assaults following celebrations over Iranian strikes

The Palestinian Prisoners Society also accused the Israeli prison administration of brutally assaulting prisoners in recent days. The assaults reportedly followed raids on prisoners' cells in retaliation for celebrating the Iranian missile strikes on "Israel".

It is noteworthy that the UN's top court said that "Israel's" decades-long occupation of Palestinian territory was "illegal" and needed to end as soon as possible.