Israeli raids injure children and force thousands from homes in Hebron

Israeli forces and settlers have intensified raids across the occupied West Bank, injuring Palestinians and displacing thousands of families in Hebron.

In the Qalandiya refugee camp north of East Jerusalem, a raid on Thursday wounded two children, according to the Palestine Red Crescent Society. A 15‑year‑old boy was shot in both legs with live ammunition and a 12‑year‑old child was hit by bullet fragments; both were taken to hospital.

Separately, disabled Palestinian Mohammad Ahmad Ayesh Thawabta was beaten by Israeli soldiers and settlers in al‑Maniya, southeast of Bethlehem, as reported by the Palestinian news agency Wafa.

In the northern West Bank, pre‑dawn raids detained 13 Palestinians, including three brothers, mainly in the Nablus governorate, where soldiers searched homes and harassed families.

Hebron Governor Khaled Dudin said 537 families – 3,361 people – have been forced from their homes, including 232 infants and 326 older people. Municipal figures put the total affected at about 5,000 people from 780 families, with education disrupted for roughly 262,000 students across 589 schools.

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs warned that Israeli operations are blocking access to livelihoods, education and healthcare, and called for an end to further forced displacements and demolitions.

Israeli forces also demolished memorial murals in Dura and carried out other attacks on homes and vehicles throughout the governorate.

Source: Al Jazeera. Photo: Regan Dsouza / Pexels.