Israeli forces demolished dozens of residential and commercial buildings in Jenin refugee camp Saturday, escalating a months-long military campaign across the West Bank that has drawn sharp criticism from rights groups.

Wide-Scale Demolitions and Military Pressure

The demolitions in Jenin—described as one of the largest since operations began five months ago—targeted around 300 housing units. Similar campaigns have been carried out in Nur Shams and Tulkarm camps, where over 100 buildings were destroyed in recent weeks, including homes and shops.

Palestinians and human rights groups denounce these actions as systematic collective punishment, part of Israel’s broader strategy to forcibly displace residents under the pretext of security operations.

Settler Violence Surges in Hebron

Parallel to military raids, settler violence has intensified. In Yatta, south of Hebron, six Palestinians, including a woman, were injured during a settler-led assault involving beatings and property destruction. According to the Al-Baydar organization, the attack also included the vandalism of agricultural structures and vehicles.

The West Bank saw 1,691 documented attacks in May alone—415 of them perpetrated by settlers—with Nablus and Hebron being hotspots of such assaults.

Raids and Mass Arrests Continue

Israeli forces arrested at least 21 Palestinians in widespread overnight raids. The largest roundups occurred in Hebron, where 16 individuals were detained from several villages. Additional arrests took place in Jenin and Tubas governorates. Several detainees were reportedly assaulted during the raids.

Since the outbreak of the Israel-Gaza war in October 2023, the West Bank has seen continuous military operations, mass arrests, and settler violence. More than 980 Palestinians have been killed and nearly 7,000 injured during this period. Human rights organizations warn of an escalating pattern of punitive policies, while international response remains muted.