SAEDNEWS: Israeli forces have laid siege to Tulkarem in the northern West Bank, carrying out mass arrests and raids that have displaced tens of thousands, while further settlement expansion threatens the prospects of a Palestinian state.
According to Saed News; Tulkarem, West Bank – The streets of Tulkarem have become the stage for what residents are calling a “show of humiliation,” as Israeli forces sealed off the city in the northern occupied West Bank. Footage shared by locals Thursday night showed Palestinians marched through the streets in lines under a heavy military presence.
The escalation comes amid a broader campaign of raids, arrests, and collective punishment that has displaced tens of thousands of Palestinians across the West Bank and Gaza. According to Tulkarem Governor Abdullah Kamil, Israeli forces have arbitrarily stormed homes, destroyed property, and terrorized civilians, including women and children. He called on the United Nations, the Human Rights Council, and humanitarian organizations to intervene.
Al Jazeera’s Nida Ibrahim described the scenes as deeply humiliating: “Videos show Israeli forces dragging hundreds of Palestinians from homes, cafes, even garages… a clear message of intimidation to remind everyone of Israel’s dominance in the occupied territories.”
The crackdown has also extended beyond Tulkarem. In Deir Jarir, five young Palestinians were shot and wounded, and one was arrested before receiving medical attention. Israeli troops conducted dawn raids in Nablus and Beit Furik, ransacking shops and converting private homes into military barracks, leaving neighborhoods tense and residents fearful.
The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the raids, criticizing international silence for emboldening Israel’s unilateral actions. Meanwhile, a stabbing incident at a hotel near Jerusalem added to regional tension, highlighting the volatile situation across the West Bank.
The violence in Tulkarem is unfolding alongside Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s aggressive settlement expansion plan. On Thursday, Netanyahu signed an agreement to construct 3,400 new homes in the so-called E1 area near the Maale Adumim settlement, stating, “We are going to fulfil our promise that there will be no Palestinian state. This place belongs to us.”
The expansion, driven by far-right ministers Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben-Gvir, aims to link settlement blocs while cutting off large parts of the West Bank from East Jerusalem, seen by Palestinians as the capital of their future state. International law considers all Israeli settlements in occupied territory illegal, yet construction continues amidst the crackdown.
For residents of Tulkarem, daily life has become a struggle for safety. Homes have been stormed, streets cleared, and the city’s refugee camps have emptied. Families attempt to navigate a landscape where fear, uncertainty, and military presence dominate the environment.
Governor Kamil warned of the broader consequences, emphasizing that the raids are not isolated incidents but part of a systematic policy to control Palestinian life in the West Bank. “They’re cracking down on entire communities, not just the perpetrators of individual incidents,” he said.
As regional and international attention grows, questions remain about the protection of Palestinian civilians and the future viability of a Palestinian state. With tens of thousands displaced and the expansion of settlements continuing, Tulkarem has become a symbol of both resilience and suffering in the occupied West Bank.
