Residents of Balata refugee camp report a dawn raid by Israeli forces that left multiple people dead or injured in the northern West Bank city of Nablus. The operation resulted in casualties and a broad wave of tear gas exposure as soldiers moved through residential areas early in the day. The U.S. government, under President Joe Biden, issued a statement expressing concern about the expansion of settlements and the actions of far-right elements within the Israeli government.
In Balata, the wake of the dawn raid was marked by reports of a large number of Israeli troops entering the camp. The Palestinian health ministry confirmed the deaths of three residents during clashes: Mohammed Abu Zeytun, 32, Conquest Abu Rizk, 30, and Abdullah Abu Hamdan, 24, with three more people reported as arrested after the operation. Palestinian sources described the raid as intense, with residents noting the sudden escalation and the destruction of homes as troops moved through the area. Authorities indicated that a significant number of soldiers participated, and clashes occurred as Palestinian groups attempted to respond to the intrusion.
Eyewitness accounts describe a unusually brutal operation that left much of the camp shaken and several structures damaged.
“War Crime” Controversy
A resident of the neighborhood near the affected house told Reuters about the moment the dawn raid began. The account describes a scene of fear and confusion as soldiers appeared at the doorstep, later forcing residents to stay indoors while homes were damaged or destroyed. Palestinian officials condemned the raid as a pattern of aggression affecting communities across the northern West Bank, including Nablus, Aqabat Jabr in Jenin, and Jericho, where many lives have been disrupted by such operations and the broader military effort aimed at countering perceived Palestinian attacks on Israeli targets.
Presidential spokesperson Mahmoud Abbas and other Palestinian leaders criticized the continued operations, calling them a form of collective punishment. Local residents reported the heavy presence of security forces, including special units, and some accounts described the use of anti-tank devices during the raid. The episode occurred in a context where Israeli forces have previously conducted similar operations in the region in response to attacks linked to the wider conflict.
Rising Toll in the West Bank
The raid added to a long list of confrontations in the West Bank, a region home to tens of thousands of people living in densely populated areas. The timing followed an earlier car attack in the vicinity, and reports indicate that additional arrests were made as security operations continued in nearby camps such as Jenin. Over the course of the year, the violence has resulted in a substantial number of Palestinian fatalities and injuries in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, contributing to ongoing humanitarian and political concerns in the area.
Looking back at recent years, tensions remain high, with the West Bank and East Jerusalem experiencing frequent clashes that local authorities associate with a cycle of violence and retaliation. The international community continues to monitor developments, while local authorities press for accountability and safety for residents caught in the conflict.