Israeli forces demolish shops in raids near occupied East Jerusalem

As part of a wider military offensive across several Palestinian neighborhoods, witnesses and medical professionals claim that Israeli forces have begun destroying shops north of the Qalandiya refugee camp as part of a wider Israeli offensive.

According to local media reports, the raids began early on Tuesday and spread to the nearby town of Kafr Aqab, where Israeli troops are stationed frequently and conducted house searches and forcedly evicted residents from their homes.

At least three people were treated by the medical teams from the raids in Qalandiya and Kafr Aqab, according to the Palestine Red Crescent Society. A bullet wound to the thigh, wounds brought on by live ammunition, and other injuries sustained as a result of physical assault included.

According to the Palestinian Wafa news agency, at least three Palestinians were injured by Israeli forces’ gunfire in addition to dozens of suffocations brought on by the use of tear gas and stun grenades, according to the governorate of Jerusalem.

During the extensive incursion, which was also accompanied by the deployment of military vehicles and bulldozers, several Palestinians were taken into custody.

Residents of the Qalandiya refugee camp Anan Mohammed Taha and his father, Mohammed Taha, were among those detained, according to Wafa.

Anxiety and intimidation are two words.

Residents claimed that Kafr Aqab’s residents had been ordered by Israeli forces to evacuate their homes. At least three of those homes had been converted into temporary military installations. According to reports, the operation would continue until at least until Wednesday morning.

According to Al Jazeera Arabic’s correspondent, Israeli forces also stormed the youth club inside the Qalandiya refugee camp and constructed a military-grade complex there.

Israeli forces fired stun grenades and tear gas canisters at them during the raid in Kafr Aqab, killing several Al Jazeera Arabic reporters.

The Jerusalem governorate’s authorities reported that private surveillance cameras were seized as well as stun grenades fired directly at local students as they returned from school.

According to Al Jazeera’s Nida Ibrahim, who is based in Kafr Aqab, Israeli forces continue to “intimidate” Palestinians.

In an effort to further devastate the Palestinian economy, Ibrahim said, “They have raided Palestinian stores, Palestinian shops, and they’ve destroyed some of the plaques, some of the advertisement billboards that were here.”

As these Israeli raids continue every day, she continued, adding that this is a part of the anxiety that Palestinians experience day in and day out.

According to Ibrahim, there are on average “60 raids per day” of Israeli incursions across the West Bank.

Israeli forces also seized items from commercial stores in the Qalandiya refugee camp, Kafr Aqab, and some of northern Jerusalem, citing alleged unpaid municipal taxes.

These areas are home to the majority of Palestinian residents who are residents of Jerusalem. Residents claim that they are billed high municipal taxes while getting few basic services.