Qabatiya: Israeli occupation forces on Tuesday evening sealed off the entrances of Qabatiya town, south of the occupied West Bank city of Jenin, according to local sources. They blocked the town entrances and several roads within it, before breaking into several civilians' houses, forcing families outside and turning their rooftops into sniping posts. The forces briefly held and interrogated several civilians, obstructed the movement of vehicles, and inspected passengers' ID cards. At least one civilian was detained during the raid. A curfew has been imposed on the town starting at 1:00 PM on Tuesday until further notice.
According to Palestine News and Information Agency - WAFA, the Israeli forces have tightened military measures across the occupied West Bank following the release of 90 Palestinian prisoners as part of the Gaza ceasefire effective from January 19. These measures dismember and isolate cities and governorates using military gates, barriers, and concrete blocks. In parallel, ongoing attacks by Israeli colonists across the West Bank aim to terrorize Palestinians and displace them from their lands, facilitating the building of illegal Jewish colonies that separate Palestinian communities.
Israel restricts Palestinians' freedom of movement within the occupied West Bank through approximately 898 checkpoints and gates, including recent installations since the start of 2025 and those following events on October 7, 2023. These closures, along with other security measures, are intended to entrench Israel's military occupation of the West Bank and its settler colonial project, enforced with routine violence against Palestinians.
