Israeli forces uproot 200 grapevines in Bethlehem, raid West Bank towns in widening operations

Israeli forces uprooted approximately 200 long-standing grapevines in the town of al-Khader, south of Bethlehem, on Monday and conducted military raids in multiple towns and villages across the occupied West Bank. According to the Palestinian news agency Wafa, bulldozers leveled agricultural land in the Um Rukba area, destroying grapevines that had been cultivated for years.

Home Converted into Military Post

In a separate incident northeast of occupied East Jerusalem, Israeli troops stormed a Palestinian home in the town of Hizma, forced the family to evacuate, and converted the property into a military post as part of ongoing operations. Forces also entered the villages of Kafr Malik and Barqa near Ramallah, and in the southern West Bank, troops set up a checkpoint in al-Dhahiriya, searched vehicles, and conducted body searches on young men.

Context of Escalation

Israeli military operations in the West Bank have intensified since the start of the war in Gaza in October 2023. According to Palestinian figures, more than 1,110 Palestinians have been killed, about 11,500 wounded, and over 21,000 arrested in the West Bank during this period. Palestinians argue the escalation—including killings, home demolitions, displacement, and settlement expansion—aims to pave the way for Israel’s annexation of the territory, which would effectively end the prospect of a two-state solution as envisioned in UN resolutions.