Israeli forces sealed the West Bank town of Qabatiya, imposed a full curfew and carried out mass arrests while converting several homes into temporary interrogation centres. The operation followed orders from Defence Minister Israel Katz and included troops from multiple divisions, border police and Shin Bet. Rights groups criticised planned home demolitions as collective punishment. Since October 7, 2023, nearly 21,000 Palestinians have been arrested and roughly 9,300 remain in detention.
Israeli Forces Seal Qabatiya — Mass Arrests, Home Seizures and Full Curfew in West Bank Town
Military vehicles operate during an Israeli raid in Qabatiya, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank [Mohamad Torokman/Reuters]
Israeli forces carried out widescale raids in the West Bank town of Qabatiya, imposing a full curfew, arresting scores of residents and displacing dozens of families after converting several homes into temporary interrogation centres, local sources and news agencies reported.
Operation and Orders
According to statements from Israeli authorities and reporting by Al Jazeera and the Palestinian Wafa news agency, the deployment followed instructions from Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz to "act forcefully" against Qabatiya, which Katz said is the hometown of a Palestinian suspected of a stabbing and car-ramming attack in northern Israel.
The Israeli military said troops from multiple divisions, border police and members of the Shin Bet security service entered the town, raided the suspect's home and said they were preparing to demolish it. Forces also said they would "scan additional locations in the village," seek to arrest wanted individuals and locate weapons.
Impact on Residents
Local sources reported that entrances to Qabatiya were sealed and that dozens of residents were rounded up and interrogated. Several family homes were reportedly converted into makeshift interrogation centres, forcing occupants to leave.
'There is a sense of fear among people in town,' a resident told Al Jazeera. 'There are Israeli threats and Israeli incitement.'
Wafa said the military operations also extended beyond Qabatiya to villages near Ramallah and Hebron. The agency reported that Israeli forces assaulted and arrested eight people from the towns of Dura, Abda and Imreish near Hebron.
Wider Context and Rights Concerns
Human rights groups have long criticised Israel's policy of demolishing the family homes of Palestinians accused of attacks on Israelis, describing the practice as a form of collective punishment that violates international law. The military's stated plan to demolish the suspect's home drew immediate condemnation from rights organisations.
Since the outbreak of large-scale hostilities on October 7, 2023, Israeli authorities say they have arrested nearly 21,000 Palestinians. As of December 1, roughly 9,300 Palestinians were reported to be held in Israeli detention, more than a third without formal charges. Human-rights organisations and other reports have alleged that some detainees have been subjected to torture, sexual abuse and, in some cases, have died while in custody; Israeli authorities deny systematic abuse while noting individual incidents are investigated.
What To Watch
Observers say the unfolding operation in Qabatiya could heighten tensions across the occupied West Bank, particularly if home demolitions proceed or raids expand. International and local rights groups are likely to continue monitoring detention conditions and calls for accountability.
