The Israeli military launched a large-scale operation in the
old city of Nablus, West Bank, on 26 August 2025, involving dozens of soldiers
and armoured vehicles. The raid caused clashes, injuries to Palestinians, home
searches and evacuations, and is part of ongoing intensified Israeli military
actions across the West Bank with significant humanitarian impact.
Israeli Military Operation Begins in Nablus
The Israeli military commenced a major operation early on 26 August 2025 in the old city of Nablus, located in the northern West Bank, as confirmed by Palestinian witnesses, officials, and the Israeli military itself. The raid began at around 3:00 am local time, with Israeli soldiers deploying across multiple neighbourhoods of the old city, which has about 30,000 residents. Dozens of soldiers and armoured vehicles were involved in the operation, which Palestinian officials claim is a
“show of force with no justification”.
Nablus Governor Ghassan Daghlas told AFP,
“The assault on Nablus is merely a show of force with no justification.”
Witnesses reported
that soldiers expelled some residents, including an elderly couple, from their
homes for house searches. Ghassan Hamdan, head of the Palestinian Medical
Relief organisation in Nablus, stated that houses were turned into military
posts as soldiers searched homes and shops extensively.
Clashes Erupt and Injuries Reported
Clashes broke out at the eastern entrance of Nablus’s old
city when local youths threw stones at the soldiers. Israeli forces responded
with tear gas and live ammunition. According to the Palestinian Red Crescent,
several Palestinians were injured, though none reportedly due to gunfire. The
operation was scheduled to continue until 4:00 pm local time, with Israeli
forces maintaining a heavy presence throughout the city.
Context of Ongoing Violence in West Bank
This operation is the latest in a series of intensified
military actions by Israel in the West Bank, particularly following the 2023
Gaza war outbreak. The violence has surged across the West Bank, with Israeli
troops and settlers reportedly killing at least 972 Palestinians since the Gaza conflict started, including militants and civilians. Meanwhile, at least 36
Israelis, including civilians and security forces, have also been killed in
attacks or military operations in the West Bank.
Earlier operations in 2025 under the Israeli military
campaign named "Iron Wall" marked a shift to more aggressive tactics
against militant groups in areas such as Jenin and Tulkarm, with widespread
displacement affecting over 40,000 Palestinians—the highest since the 1967
Six-Day War.
Widening Military Actions and Human Rights Concerns
The Israeli military’s extensive presence and aggressive
incursions, including storming of hospitals and demolition of homes in cities
like Jenin, Tulkarm, and Nablus, have drawn criticism for their humanitarian
impact. Medical access has been hindered due to checkpoints and roadblocks, as
noted by Doctors Without Borders. The United Nations and humanitarian agencies
have expressed concern over the scale of displacement and damage to civilian
infrastructure caused by these operations.
Raids in Ramallah and El-Bireh
Simultaneously on 26 August, Israeli forces launched an
extended raid in Ramallah and El-Bireh, also in the West Bank, resulting in at
least 58 Palestinian injuries including children, elderly, and pregnant women,
with many struck by live ammunition, rubber bullets, and shrapnel. Israeli
snipers were seen positioned on rooftops during this raid amid the occupation
forces' advances into local markets and shops. Palestinian authorities
condemned these acts as "criminal aggression" and called for
international intervention.
Xavier Abu Eid, communications director for the Palestine
Liberation Organisation, described the raids as daily reminders of Israeli
dominance in the region. Al Jazeera correspondent Hamdah Salhut described
ongoing settler violence supported by the Israeli army, including murder,
arson, and destruction of Palestinian property in the West Bank.
Political and Strategic Perspectives
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has stated that
the military operations form part of a campaign to protect Israeli settlements
and target Iranian backed militias in the West Bank. Israeli Defence Minister
Israel Katz declared that Israeli forces would maintain a military presence in
the northern West Bank throughout 2025, marking a long-term strategy shift.
Meanwhile, Palestinian Authority forces have partially
collaborated in Israeli raids for targeted arrests, a controversial development
representing complex local dynamics. International and Palestinian observers
view the operations as collective punishment against Palestinians, aiming to
financially and socially destabilise the population, with rising displacement
and destruction of property.
Historical Context and Recent Developments
Nablus has been repeatedly targeted in Israeli military campaigns historically, notably during the second intifada in 2002 and more recent operations in 2022 and 2023 aimed at dismantling militant groups. Early June 2025 saw previous operations in Nablus where at least two Palestinians were killed, indicating escalating tensions and violence in the area ahead of the current raid.
Since the Gaza war's beginning in 2023, about 671 Palestinians in the West Bank, including 129 children, have died due to violence involving Israeli forces and settlers according to UN figures. The situation remains volatile, with ongoing military operations, settler attacks, and humanitarian crises continuing to affect thousands in Nablus, Ramallah, and other West Bank locations.