Israeli Forces Raid Anata and Shu’fat, Detaining Dozens
Military vehicles seal entrances, damage water lines, and impose curfew on eighty thousand residents in northeast occupied Jerusalem.
Israeli forces launched a large-scale military invasion of Anata and Shu’fat refugee camp northeast of occupied Jerusalem at dawn on Tuesday. Soldiers enforced a strict curfew while sealing all entrances to the areas and beginning widespread arrests of Palestinian residents.
Military vehicles and bulldozers stormed into the two communities amid heavy troop deployment across neighborhoods and streets. The army used loudspeakers mounted on vehicles to announce the curfew order to residents trapped inside the sealed zones.
Local sources reported that soldiers closed every entrance to prevent Palestinians from entering or leaving. This complete lockdown brought daily life to a standstill for roughly eighty thousand people living in the affected areas.
Troops broke into homes, shops, and private properties to conduct searches. They forced open doors and damaged contents during these intrusive operations. Schools suspended classes and businesses were forced to close due to the severe restrictions.
The Jerusalem Governorate stated that Israeli forces detained around one hundred Palestinians during field interrogations. Among those identified were Mohannad Fayeq ar-Rifai and brothers Yasser and Ziad Sari Fheidat who were abducted from their homes.
Soldiers also abducted Mohammad Issa Hawamda and Khader Odah Abu Haniyya among others. The army occupied the home of Kamal Taher Salama and converted it into a field interrogation center for the numerous detainees held during the raid.
Under heavy military protection, bulldozers uprooted main water lines in Anata. This destruction threatens to disrupt essential water supplies to residents. Medical teams were also prevented from reaching patients and emergency cases during the operation.
The governorate described the invasion as a systematic military assault similar to recent attacks. It warned that closures and infrastructure destruction amount to collective punishment. The Israeli military called it a focused operation against alleged terrorist activity.