Israeli occupation forces intensified raids across the occupied West Bank early Friday, arresting Palestinians, storming homes, and deploying tear gas around civilian areas, amid a parallel surge in Israeli political incitement to expand incursions into Al-Aqsa Mosque.
In the northern West Bank, two Palestinians were arrested during a raid on the town of Jaba’, south of Jenin, where Israeli troops also searched multiple homes. Raids were also reported in Awarta, southeast of Nablus, and Imatin, east of Qalqilya.
In the central West Bank, Israeli occupation forces (IOF) stormed areas surrounding the Palestine Medical Complex in Ramallah, firing tear gas into the vicinity of the hospital and its courtyards. The IOF also deployed heavily inside Al-Amari refugee camp in Al-Bireh, while additional incursions targeted Qalandiya refugee camp north of occupied Jerusalem.
Amid an attack by Israeli settler militias, Israeli occupation forces detained three Palestinian young men and chased two others east of the town of Sa'ir, north of Hebron in the occupied West Bank.#FIFAWorldCup#GazaStarving#WorldCup pic.twitter.com/Zg1Mx2d8cw
— Palestine Info Center (@palinfoen) July 17, 2026
Further south, occupation forces raided Beit Sahour in the Bethlehem governorate, while in the north they carried out operations across several neighborhoods in Tubas, as part of a near-daily campaign of arrests and military incursions across the territory.
Israeli Officials Push for Expanded Al-Aqsa Incursions
The field escalation comes alongside growing calls by Israeli officials to intensify incursions into Al-Aqsa Mosque.
According to Yedioth Ahronoth, ministers and Knesset members from the Likud Party, speaking at a conference organized by the so-called “Temple Mount Administration” in occupied Jerusalem, called for expanding settler access and prayer at the site and closing it to Muslims.
Deputy Knesset Speaker Nissim Vaturi said the mosque should be closed to Arabs “until we reach the only acceptable status quo… that Jews reach the place daily and freely.”
Energy Minister Eli Cohen stated that more than 60,000 Jews “pray annually” in the courtyards of Al-Aqsa, noting that he personally led a group into the compound.
Environmental Protection Minister Idit Silman praised efforts to expand Jewish presence at the site, while other lawmakers called for broader changes to existing arrangements.
The remarks come as Al-Aqsa Mosque continues to witness regular incursions by settlers under Israeli military protection, with Palestinian groups warning of attempts to alter the historical and religious status quo.
Israeli settlers stormed the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound this morning, performing Talmudic rituals and dances to mark what is referred to as the Hebrew month of Av. pic.twitter.com/QY1u9D3fTQ
— Eye on Palestine (@EyeonPalestine) July 15, 2026
Palestinian activists have meanwhile called for increased presence at the holy compound to confront the escalating Israeli violations.
Source: Palestinian media (translated and edited by Al-Manar)