IDF launches night operations in West Bank refugee camps following defence ministry pressure

Israeli Defence Force troops have launched overnight operations in Kalandia and the nearby village of Kafr Aqab in the occupied West Bank, following pressure from Defence Minister Israel Katz on the military to increase activity in Palestinian refugee camps across the territory. The operations are part of what Israeli officials characterise as heightened security measures ahead of the approaching holiday season. The timing of the operations, coming after direct intervention from the Defence Ministry, reflects ongoing tensions over security protocols in the densely populated areas that have been flashpoints for violence in recent years. Kalandia camp, located north of Jerusalem, and the adjoining village of Kafr Aqab are home to thousands of Palestinian refugees and have seen repeated cycles of military operations and clashes. The IDF’s continued presence in these areas underscores the Israeli government’s focus on preventing security threats during the holiday period, though such operations remain controversial among Palestinian residents and international observers who raise concerns about civilian safety and the collective punishment implications of large-scale military activity in refugee settlements.

Source: Maariv — Original article in Hebrew.