The Israeli military has launched a large-scale arrest operation in the occupied West Bank, detaining at least 30 Palestinians during overnight raids, according to rights and prisoner advocacy groups.
The operation included a heavy presence in the Al-Fawwar refugee camp in southern Hebron, where Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) are currently conducting an intensified raid.
In a joint statement released on Tuesday, the Palestinian Prisoner Society and the Commission of Detainees’ Affairs condemned the arrests as “systematic collective punishment” in the context of Israel’s ongoing war, accusing the Israeli military of targeting civilians without due process.
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The statement described the raids as involving field interrogations and widespread deployments across multiple areas including Ramallah, Bethlehem, Nablus, Tubas, Salfit, Tulkarem, and Qalqilya.
Among those arrested were three former prisoners from Qalqilya who had recently been released as part of the most recent prisoner swaps in January and February. Their re-arrest has sparked outrage from Palestinian rights groups, who say it highlights a pattern of repeated violations of negotiated agreements.
“The re-arrest of individuals freed in official swaps reveals a deliberate policy aimed at keeping former detainees under constant threat and surveillance,” the statement said. “This is a clear violation of the terms of their release and international norms.”
The IDF has not publicly commented on the specific reasons for the arrests but has previously defended such operations as necessary for national security and counterterrorism efforts.
Tensions in the West Bank have been steadily rising in recent months, with near-daily military operations and repeated clashes between Israeli forces and Palestinian residents. Advocacy groups warn that continued raids and arrests without legal transparency risk fueling further instability and undermining any prospects for diplomatic progress.
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