Palestinians welcomed their released relatives despite Israeli threats and intimidation [Getty]
Israeli forces in the occupied West Bank raided the homes of the families of several prisoners set to be freed on Saturday as part of the Gaza ceasefire deal, warning them not to celebrate their release.
The Israeli army stormed various areas of Ramallah and surrounding areas in central West Bank at dawn, hours before Israel was set to release 183 Palestinian detainees in return for three Israeli captives held by Hamas in Gaza as part of the deal’s fifth phase.
The release of Israeli captives is set to take place in the enclave’s central city of Deir al-Balah. They have been identified as Eli Sharabi, Or Levy and Ohad Ben Amin. Among the Palestinians set to be released, 72 are from the West Bank and 111 are from Gaza.
The mayor of the West Bank town of Silwad, Raed Hamed, told The New Arab’s sister site Al-Araby Al-Jadeed, that Israeli forces raided the homes of prisoners Raafat Hamed and Atef al-Salhi, warning their families not to carry out any celebrations for the release of the two men.
Other local sources said a raid took place at the family home of prisoner Shadi Barghouti in the village of Kobar, adding that Shadi’s father, Fakhri – a former prisoner – was beaten by soldiers. He had to be treated in hospital after suffering fractures.
The homes of prisoners Mohammed Barash in Al-Am’ari Camp and Hamas commander Jamal al-Taweel in the city of Al-Bireh were also raided, where Israeli soldiers issued the same warning about celebrating their release.
Israel has made these warnings repeatedly whenever it releases Palestinian detainees as part of the Gaza swap deal, but many Palestinians have ignored the warnings, gathering in the thousands to welcome the prisoners with fireworks and waving flags.
In addition to the raids, the Palestinian Prisoners’ Information Office said Saturday that Israeli authorities summoned the families of prisoners Issam Imad Attoun and Muhammad Ali Attoun from Jerusalem for interrogation.
The two detainees are also set be released on Saturday as part of the swap deal.
The Prisoners’ Information Office says this is a frequent practice by the Israelis to intimidate and threaten the families of prisoners.
Israel has also demolished homes of families of Palestinians in the West Bank and occupied East Jerusalem who it accuses of being behind attacks against Israelis, in a long-standing practice. This has been slammed by rights groups as a form of collective punishment.
The West Bank has seen a spike in deadly Israeli raids and attacks since the Gaza war erupted in October 2023, with hundreds of Palestinians killed and thousands more detained.
Days after the Gaza ceasefire came into effect last month, Israel began a widescale military operation in Jenin and its refugee camp, where dozens have died and thousands of residents have been displaced.
