"Israeli" army soldiers take position during a raid in the West Bank (Credit: AFP)
"Israeli" forces ram bus carrying elderly Hajj pilgrims in West Bank
The Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) carried out fresh military raids across the occupied West Bank early Saturday, detaining two Palestinians and damaging a bus that was transporting Hajj pilgrims in Jenin.
The incident unfolded outside the governorate building in Jenin city, where a bus full of elderly pilgrims was preparing to leave for the Karama border crossing en route to Saudi Arabia. A military vehicle rammed into the parked bus, sparking outrage among Palestinian officials and community members.
According to the official Palestinian news agency WAFA, the IOF vehicle "hit the bus deliberately," although no physical injuries were reported.
Jenin Deputy Governor Mansour al-Saadi strongly condemned the event, saying, "The occupation vehicle deliberately and directly hit the bus while it was parked outside the governorate building. Most of the passengers were elderly and suffering from chronic illnesses, which added to the trauma and fear."
Palestinians from the West Bank often rely on Jordanian airports for international travel due to Israeli-imposed restrictions on movement.
Elsewhere in the West Bank, a young man named Samer Jaradat was arrested during a raid in Silat al-Harithiya, a town west of Jenin. As the IOF withdrew, a small explosive device reportedly detonated in the area, though no injuries were confirmed.
In the town of Anabta near Tulkarem, IOF troops stormed the home of 24-year-old Diana Ghalib Mazid and arrested her, according to WAFA.
Raids were also reported in Nablus, targeting the Askar New Camp in the east and the al-Ain Camp in the west of the city. Residents reported hearing gunfire and sound bombs, though the extent of damage or arrests remains unclear.