The Israeli military on Wednesday launched a large-scale operation in the old city of Nablus, northern occupied West Bank, deploying dozens of soldiers and armoured vehicles, according to witnesses and Palestinian officials.
The military confirmed the operation to AFP but did not provide details on its objective. Residents reported that the raid began around 3:00 am (2400 GMT), with soldiers storming multiple neighbourhoods of the densely populated old city, home to about 30,000 people.
“The assault on Nablus is merely a show of force with no justification,” Nablus Governor Ghassan Daghlas told AFP.
Eyewitnesses said soldiers expelled an elderly couple from their home, while others reported that troops stormed and searched houses and shops, with some being converted into military posts. Ghassan Hamdan, head of the Palestinian Medical Relief organisation in Nablus, confirmed the developments.
Daghlas added that Palestinian authorities were informed the raid would continue until 4:00 pm (1300 GMT). AFP footage showed Israeli forces and military vehicles positioned across the city.
Local sources reported clashes at the eastern entrance of the old city, where youths threw stones at Israeli troops. Soldiers responded with tear gas and live ammunition. The Palestinian Red Crescent confirmed several injuries, though none resulted from gunfire.
The old city of Nablus has been the site of repeated Israeli raids, including major operations in 2022 and 2023 targeting local armed groups, and earlier in 2002 during the second Palestinian intifada. In June 2025, an Israeli raid there left at least two Palestinians dead.
Violence has sharply escalated in the West Bank since the outbreak of the Gaza war in October 2023. According to an AFP tally based on Palestinian Authority figures, at least 972 Palestinians—including civilians and militants—have been killed by Israeli forces or settlers since then. Over the same period, Israeli figures report at least 36 Israelis, including civilians and security personnel, killed in attacks or military operations in the West Bank.
What you should know
The old city of Nablus remains a flashpoint in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, with frequent military raids and clashes.
Its history of resistance during past uprisings makes it a symbolic stronghold and a recurring target for Israeli operations.
