Christmas Day in the occupied West Bank began with an attack on the Jenin refugee camp and several arrests.
Monday morning's raid followed several other raids throughout the area that resulted in dozens of arrests and the shooting of a 17-year-old boy in the neck. Bethlehem was one of the cities affected.
Jenin, widely seen as a symbol of Palestinian resistance to the occupation, has been repeatedly attacked by Israeli forces since the war with Hamas began in Gaza on October 7.
On Monday, the Jenin-based Freedom Theater, a popular symbol of peace and hope that was recently ambushed and destroyed by Israeli soldiers, described how Israeli forces lit up the sky “with flare bombs” as they raided the camp.
Christmas Day begins with another attack on the Jenin refugee camp as the Israeli army lights up the sky with flare bombs.
12/25/23#Mayday Created by @freedom_theatre & @artistfrontline #Jenin #JeninUnderAttack #Palestine #Theatre #جنين pic.twitter.com/u44NnedJUg
— The Freedom Theater (@freedom_theatre) December 25, 2023
In a report from Jenin refugee camp, Al Jazeera's Imran Khan said the Israeli army had searched at least 10 houses and claimed it was looking for Palestinians to arrest. However, no arrests were made.
“Israeli forces called on Palestinian fighters to come out and surrender, but that didn’t happen either. Residents tell us that it is just a harassment campaign,” Khan said.
“The Jenin refugee camp is currently the most frequently attacked camp in the occupied West Bank. Israeli forces are destroying any symbol of resistance or nationalism in the camp.”
While the raids in the camp and the Jenin region are now reportedly over, at least nine young men were arrested in the village of al-Jalama, northeast of Jenin.
Regions in and near Nablus, Jericho, Ramallah and Bethlehem – which Christians believe to be the birthplace of Jesus Christ – were also raided by Israeli forces overnight, Al Jazeera's Hamdah Salhut reported.
Israeli forces arrested at least 20 people, including senior citizens, in the village of Burka, northwest of the city of Nablus in the occupied West Bank.
In addition, the Palestinian news agency Wafa reported that a 17-year-old boy was injured after being hit in the neck by live ammunition fired by Israeli forces during an ambush in the city of Aqaba, north of Tubas.
Wafa reported that Israeli forces also arrested another Tubas resident before withdrawing from the city.
Increasing violence in the occupied West Bank
Parallel to Israel's war in Gaza, in which more than 20,000 Palestinians were killed, there has been increasing violence and arrests in the West Bank.
Israel says it is targeting Hamas in Gaza, but the violence in the West Bank is taking place despite Hamas's limited presence in the area.
At least 303 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli incursions in the West Bank since October 7.
In addition to the activities of the Israeli military, attacks by Israeli settlers are also increasing.
At least 700,000 Israeli settlers live in illegal, fortified Jewish-only settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, most of which are built in whole or in part on private Palestinian land.
Attacks, which have increased exponentially in the past three months, include shootings, stabbings, stone-throwing and beatings, as well as arson and serious damage to homes, vehicles and agricultural land.
The United Nations found that “in almost half of all incidents, Israeli forces either accompanied or actively supported the attackers.”
Human rights groups, Palestinians and some in the international community have criticized Israel for not doing enough to stop settler violence.
Earlier this month, countries including Belgium and the United States announced they would impose visa restrictions on “extremist” Israeli settlers involved in undermining peace, security or stability in the occupied West Bank.
At a Cabinet meeting on Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu's government ratified a decision to allocate $21 million to support new settlements in the occupied West Bank.