The Israeli army has been arresting Hamas leaders, such as teachers and journalists since the start of the war on October 7. Numerous arrests of Palestinians have taken place in particular in the West Bank.
Arrests of Palestinians are exploding, with 120 currently detained after being arrested during raids in the West Bank. In total, the Israeli army has made 870 arrests since the start of the war on Saturday October 7, this was announced on Thursday October 19 by the Committee for Palestinian Prisoner Affairs, an organ of the Palestinian Authority. .
Violence is intensifying in the West Bank, as evidenced by this raid in the Tulkarem refugee camp and these attacks by settlers which are increasing sharply. All this also adds, and more broadly, to the question of Israeli hostages and that of air raids on Gaza.
In the West Bank, this is in any case the largest wave of arrests of Palestinians in years. For Ismail, a young man from the Jenin refugee camp, these are arbitrary detentions. “The Palestinians are arrested during the night. A few days ago, when I was sleeping, the Israeli army arrived and they arrested a young man. He had posted something on social networks”he explains.
Participating in a demonstration, posting videos on social networks or even displaying one’s political opinion are sufficient grounds for an arrest, according to this young man.
“If they can’t arrest the person they’re looking for, they can arrest his brother, his father, his son or anyone who might be affiliated.”
Ismail, in a refugee camp in Jenin in the West Bankat franceinfo
Since the start of the war, leaders of Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad have been arrested. This is also the case for journalists, young people, former prisoners, parliamentarians and teachers. “One of them was my teacher, he taught us religion in high school”says Hamze, another young person from Jenin. Every time something happens in Gaza or the West Bank in general, he gets arrested. This is probably the 25th time he has been arrested.”.
This campaign of arrests is not limited to the West Bank. Palestinian citizens of Israel, those from Jerusalem and even workers from Gaza are also targeted.