Israeli Forces Besiege House in Birqin Village, West Bank


Birqin: Israeli occupation forces Wednesday evening besieged a house in Birqin village, west of the occupied West Bank city of Jenin, according to eyewitnesses. They reported that the occupation troops surrounded the house and ordered those inside to surrender via loudspeakers, leading to confrontations.



According to Palestine News and Information Agency – WAFA, the heavily armed soldiers deployed military drones to fire ENERGA anti-tank missiles at the house. Additional military reinforcements were also dispatched to the town amid the siege. Hassan Subh, Mayor of Birqin, stated that during the raid, the soldiers used women as human shields.



This incident follows a massive raid by the occupation forces on Jenin city and its refugee camp, which resulted in ten fatalities and 40 casualties on Tuesday. Israeli occupation forces frequently conduct raids on Palestinian houses across the West Bank, claiming to search for “wanted” Palestinians, which often incite clashes with the residents.



These raids are conducted without the need for a search warrant, even in areas under the full control of the Palestinian Authority, as the military exercises its sweeping arbitrary powers. Under Israeli military law, army commanders possess full executive, legislative, and judicial authority over the 3 million Palestinians residing in the West Bank, who have no influence over how this authority is applied.