Hamas has strongly condemned the Israeli military raid on
Ramallah, calling it an outrageous crime amid escalating tensions in the West
Bank. The Israeli operation targeted a currency exchange accused of
transferring funds to Hamas, resulting in arrests and injuries to dozens of
Palestinians, including children and elderly, as multiple sources report.
Israeli military raid on Ramallah targeted currency exchange
As reported by Xinhua on August 26, 2025, the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) conducted a large-scale raid in central Ramallah,
withdrawing later the same day after the operation. According to Palestinian security forces, Israeli troops stormed several shops and money exchange
companies in Ramallah and al-Bireh. The IDF stated that the raid specifically
targeted a currency exchange business accused of transferring funds to Hamas.
During the operation, five wanted individuals suspected of terrorist activity were
arrested, and hundreds of thousands of shekels identified as terror funds were
confiscated. Palestinian sources also confirmed that the Israeli forces raided
the commercial area where official Palestinian institutions are located,
causing fear among residents. Twenty Palestinians were injured, including a
12-year-old boy shot in the back and two pregnant women who suffered from
suffocation, according to the Palestinian Red Crescent Society.
Injuries and resistance reported during the raid
Al Monitor provided detailed eyewitness accounts from the raid,
reporting at least 27 Palestinians wounded; eight from live fire and others
from rubber bullets, shrapnel, and tear gas inhalation. Palestinians reportedly
threw stones in resistance as the Israeli military descended on the city
center. The IDF confirmed the capture of five suspects and confiscation of
terror funds. The Palestine Red Crescent also alleged that Israeli forces
obstructed the evacuation of injured individuals during the raid. The operation
represents one of the more intensive incursions into Ramallah, the seat of the
Palestinian Authority, which sees fewer raids compared to northern West Bank
towns.
Hamas strongly condemns the raid as an outrageous crime
The Palestinian Resistance Movement Hamas issued strong
condemnation of the raid on Ramallah, branding it an "outrageous
crime" by Israeli occupation forces, as reported by Middle East Monitor.
Hamas highlighted the raid as part of a broader campaign of aggression against
Palestinians.
Impact on civilians and Palestinian leadership reactions
Al Jazeera's coverage on August 26 detailed that 58
Palestinians were injured during the Israeli raid, including a child who
underwent surgery after being shot in the abdomen. The Palestinian Ministry of
Health confirmed the injuries, with reports of snipers positioned on rooftops
and stun grenades used in the operation. The raid severely impacted civilian
areas around the Palestinian Authority presidential compound. Ramallah's
Governor, Laila Ghanem, condemned the operation, stating that Israel would not
break the will of the Palestinian people through raids and arrests. The
Palestinian Authority presidency referred to the raids as "criminal acts
of aggression," holding the Israeli government fully responsible and
calling for international intervention, especially from the United States.
Regional and international response
Egypt condemned the raid, denouncing Israeli policies as aggressive and extremist, labelling Israel as the
"main source of destabilisation in the region,"
according to Al Monitor. Political
commentators and analysts argued that the Israeli raids illustrate a strategy
aiming to extend military pressure beyond Gaza to all Palestinians, with
collective punishment tactics intended to financially suffocate Palestinian
populations in the West Bank.
The context of increased Israeli military actions in the West Bank
Since the outbreak of the conflict in Gaza in October 2023,
the West Bank has witnessed a sharp rise in Israeli military raids and settler
violence, resulting in significant Palestinian displacement. Ramallah has
recorded the highest number of such attacks, followed by Nablus. At least 671
Palestinians, including 129 children, have reportedly died due to Israeli
forces' actions since October 2023, underscoring escalating tensions and
violence throughout the region.
Israeli justification and Palestinian resistance
The Israel Defense Forces have justified the raid as a targeted operation against terrorist financing networks linked to Hamas. In contrast, Palestinians view the raid as part of ongoing military harassment and occupation. Hamas' strong denunciation reflects the group's stance against Israeli military incursions in Palestinian urban centres, reiterating the devastation such raids cause at both community and political levels.