Photos: Israeli forces raid occupied West Bank’s Qalandiya refugee camp
News Source
•Wed, 05 Aug 2026 17:41:24 +0000
📰 What Happened
Israeli forces carried out a military raid on the Qalandiya refugee camp in the occupied West Bank, near Ramallah. They entered homes and shops and threatened to demolish local businesses. The Red Crescent said eight people were taken to hospital with injuries.
The camp committee said the army arrested at least 20 people and took positions on residents’ roofs. The army did not say why it carried out the raid. Journalists at the scene say soldiers also targeted reporters, and one was assaulted.
🔍 The Backstory
Qalandiya is one of the oldest Palestinian refugee camps, set up after the 1948 war. It sits right next to Jerusalem, close to a former airport called Atarot. In 2023, Israel’s government pushed plans to build about 9,000 housing units for settlers on that airport land.
Palestinians fear the raids are part of a plan to push people out before building settlements. Across the West Bank, Israel has ramped up military operations. Palestinians say raids now reach about 50 per day in recent weeks.
🎯 Why It Matters
This raid shows how daily life for Palestinians in the West Bank keeps getting harder. Home demolitions and mass arrests affect real families, and the fear of forced eviction affects everyone in the camp.
Israeli forces carried out a military raid on the Qalandiya refugee camp in the occupied West Bank, near Ramallah. They entered homes and shops and threatened to demolish local businesses. The Red Crescent said eight people were taken to hospital with injuries.
The camp committee said the army arrested at least 20 people and took positions on residents’ roofs. The army did not say why it carried out the raid. Journalists at the scene say soldiers also targeted reporters, and one was assaulted.
Qalandiya is one of the oldest Palestinian refugee camps, set up after the 1948 war. It sits right next to Jerusalem, close to a former airport called Atarot. In 2023, Israel’s government pushed plans to build about 9,000 housing units for settlers on that airport land.
Palestinians fear the raids are part of a plan to push people out before building settlements. Across the West Bank, Israel has ramped up military operations. Palestinians say raids now reach about 50 per day in recent weeks.
This raid shows how daily life for Palestinians in the West Bank keeps getting harder. Home demolitions and mass arrests affect real families, and the fear of forced eviction affects everyone in the camp.