Israeli raid in Qalandia camp leaves eight wounded

Israeli forces raided Qalandia refugee camp on Wednesday in an operation that left eight people injured, according to reports from the occupied West Bank. The camp, which lies next to Jerusalem, has seen rising tension as residents worry about possible eviction.

Journalists at the scene saw about a dozen armoured military jeeps enter the camp. Israeli soldiers did not allow press members or residents to go inside, limiting access during the operation.

A military official said security forces were working in the Qalandia camp area to thwart terror and apprehend wanted individuals. COGAT, the Israeli defence ministry body responsible for civilian affairs in the Palestinian territories, said in an Arabic-language statement that the large-scale operation targeted terrorist elements, terrorist infrastructure, and the possession and trafficking of weapons.

The statement added that the army would not allow the camp to become, in its words, a centre of terrorism or a safe haven for terrorists and criminals. It also referred to the West Bank by the biblical name Judea and Samaria, a term used by Israel for the territory it has occupied since 1967.

The Palestine Red Crescent said eight people were taken to hospital after suffering injuries. Mohammad Aslan, spokesman for the committee that manages the affairs of Qalandia camp, said the Israeli army had arrested at least 20 people and taken positions on residents’ roofs.

Footage shared by the Jerusalem Governorate, the Palestinian local authority for the area, showed rubble and boulders blocking alleys inside the camp to hinder movement. It also showed furniture and other belongings scattered inside one raided house.

The latest Israeli raid in Qalandia camp comes against a backdrop of repeated tension in and around Palestinian communities in the occupied West Bank. Dawn reported the incident from Qalandia, where residents have voiced concern over the security situation and the possibility of displacement.

For now, the available details point to a fast-moving operation with significant restrictions on movement and access. The exact situation inside the camp remained unclear after the raid, but the reported injuries and arrests underscore the scale of the overnight or daytime military action.

Frequently asked question

What is known about the Qalandia camp raid?

Israeli forces entered the camp with armoured jeeps, eight people were reportedly injured, and at least 20 people were said to have been arrested, according to the feed and local statements.