Israeli Army Imposes Siege on Tulkarem Amid Mass Arrests, Expulsions

Residents reported that soldiers sealed off all main entrances to the northern West Bank city, marching Palestinians in lines through the streets in scenes widely condemned as degrading. The move comes as Israel accelerates its destruction of Gaza and pushes settlement expansion deeper into occupied territory.

Tulkarem Governor Abdullah Kamil appealed on Friday to the United Nations General Assembly, the Human Rights Council, and humanitarian organizations, calling the crackdown “crimes” against the city’s nearly 100,000 residents.

Kamil said Israeli forces were “arbitrarily and unjustly” arresting people, storming homes, destroying property and “terrorizing children and women,” according to Palestinian news agency Wafa.

On Thursday, Israeli authorities claimed that two of their soldiers were injured in Tulkarem by what they called an explosive device. The incident was followed by intensified raids throughout the city.

Al Jazeera correspondent Nida Ibrahim reported that “videos showed Israeli forces dragging hundreds of Palestinians from their homes, cafes and even a garage in a show of humiliation.”

“They’re trying to remind everyone that if there is any incident in any part of the occupied West Bank that they do not like, they will crack down not just on those accused, but on everyone in that area,” Ibrahim said.

She added that the campaign has already forced “tens of thousands of Palestinians out of their homes, turning the city and its refugee camps into ghost towns.” Palestinians view the operation as part of Israel’s wider policy of domination across the West Bank.

In a separate incident, Israeli forces shot and wounded five Palestinians in the village of Deir Jarir, east of Ramallah, Wafa reported. Local officials said one of the injured was detained before receiving medical care. The army also closed the village entrance for several hours.