Israeli occupiers attack vehicles, army halts West Bank construction

Israeli occupiers blocked the Muarrajat road linking Jericho and Ramallah and attacked Palestinian vehicles on Sunday, disrupting traffic along a vital route to the Jordan Valley, while the army issued demolition notices targeting homes and agricultural facilities near Bethlehem, according to Palestinian media and witnesses.

Settler attacks disrupt West Bank traffic

The official Wafa news agency reported that the occupiers assaulted several vehicles passing through the area, causing panic among residents who rely on the route daily. The attacks blocked one of the main roads connecting central parts of the occupied West Bank to the Jordan Valley, forcing commuters to seek alternative paths.

The Muarrajat area has witnessed repeated violence in recent weeks, including road closures and vehicle assaults by Israeli occupiers, often carried out under the protection of the Israeli army. Witnesses said Sunday's incident follows a pattern of intimidation targeting Palestinians traveling between major West Bank cities.

Army targets homes in Wadi Rahhal

Witnesses told Anadolu that the Israeli army delivered demolition notices targeting ten homes under construction, finishing works on a private residence and two agricultural rooms in Wadi Rahhal village south of Bethlehem. The orders cite construction without permits, a justification frequently used to restrict Palestinian building in the occupied territory.

The measures affect structures in Area C, which comprises 61 percent of the occupied West Bank and remains under full Israeli control under the 1995 Oslo II Accord. Area A falls under Palestinian administration, while Area B is under Palestinian civil control and Israeli security control.

West Bank casualty crisis

Since October 2023, Israeli escalation in the West Bank and East Jerusalem has killed 1,169 Palestinians and injured 12,666, according to Palestinian figures. The same period has seen 23,000 arrests and the displacement of 33,000 people as army operations and settler violence intensify across the occupied territory.