Israeli Forces Conduct Raids in West Bank Amid Ongoing Tensions

Israeli forces have executed two distinct operations in the Bethlehem region of the occupied West Bank, specifically targeting the towns of Tuqu and Husan, as reported by the Palestinian news agency Wafa. The incursion into Tuqu, located southeast of Bethlehem, involved troops entering the town centre and deploying tear gas and stun grenades. Fortunately, no injuries were reported during this operation.

Earlier in the day, Israeli forces also carried out a raid in Husan, situated to the west of Bethlehem. They infiltrated residential neighbourhoods and conducted searches of various homes, including those belonging to individuals previously detained. However, no new arrests were recorded during these operations.

Such military incursions have become a frequent occurrence in the occupied West Bank, where Israeli forces routinely engage in searches, detain residents, and attack towns. The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) has indicated that the Israeli military is responsible for 2,500 violations during the ongoing ceasefire with Hezbollah that has lasted over a year.

UNIFIL also reported that 360 abandoned weapons caches belonging to Hezbollah have been transferred to the Lebanese army since November 2024, highlighting the ongoing security concerns in the region. In a statement, UNIFIL noted, "All these violations are reported to the UN Security Council."

Israel maintains a presence in at least five locations within Lebanese territory following its invasion of southern Lebanon last October. A ceasefire agreement reached in November was supposed to facilitate the withdrawal of Israeli troops from southern Lebanon, but this has not been realised.

Political analyst Muhammad Shehada from Gaza, affiliated with the European Council on Foreign Relations, has commented on the ongoing situation, stating that Israel has spent over two years devastating Gaza and is unlikely to ease its military actions despite the ceasefire. He described Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's strategy as a "two-dimensional plan" aimed at ensuring that hostilities in Gaza do not cease.

Shehada elaborated, "Either Gaza remains permanently as a refugee camp in ruins, uninhabitable, or Hamas retaliates, providing Israel with an excuse to resume its military actions."

He also suggested that Israeli forces have been attempting to provoke retaliatory actions from Hamas by inflicting casualties among Palestinians, with American political dynamics influencing this approach.

The Palestinian group has accused Israeli forces of consistently breaching the agreed-upon boundaries in the Gaza Strip, leading to increased displacement among civilians. Spokesperson Hazem Qassem stated that Israeli actions are shifting the designated lines of control westward, which he termed a "flagrant breach" of the ceasefire terms.

In response to these developments, the French Foreign Ministry expressed its concerns regarding the escalating violence, especially in southern Lebanon, and urged Israel to adhere to the ceasefire. An unnamed spokesperson remarked, "We condemn the Israeli strikes that are killing civilians in the south. Our position is one of respect for the ceasefire of 27 November 2024."

The Israeli military has intensified airstrikes in southern Lebanon, claiming to target Hezbollah and Hamas, resulting in numerous casualties in recent days.

In the UK, over 80 legal scholars and practitioners have signed an open letter urging the government to withdraw proposed legislation that would grant police additional powers to regulate protests, particularly those advocating for Palestinian rights. The letter, addressed to Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, argues that the new powers could significantly undermine the right to protest in England and Wales.

Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has also called on the UK government to reconsider its ban on Palestine Action, a group focused on activism against arms companies. Corbyn's letter to Justice Secretary David Lammy highlights concerns regarding the detention of activists, including Amu Gib, who has been on hunger strike protesting their treatment.

In a separate incident, a 22-year-old Israeli man has been charged with espionage for allegedly passing information to Iran while serving in the military. According to the Times of Israel, Rafael Reuveni is accused of sending images and details about Israeli sites and receiving payment in return.

Meanwhile, Gaza's Civil Defence and the International Committee of the Red Cross are set to commence operations to recover bodies buried under rubble in the Gaza Strip. The initiative will start in the Barakat al-Waz area, where many individuals have been missing following Israeli strikes on residential structures.

The European Union has dispatched 56 tonnes of supplies to assist in constructing shelters for displaced Palestinians in Gaza, highlighting the urgent humanitarian needs as winter approaches. The EU warned that many essential supplies remain stranded at borders, exacerbating the crisis for millions of people in the region.