WEST BANK, Date: February 25, 2026 – The occupied West Bank is witnessing a dramatic and dangerous escalation as the Israeli occupation forces (IOF) and illegal Jewish settlers engage in coordinated, multi-pronged attacks against Palestinian communities. The pre-dawn raid on Balata refugee camp in Nablus and the torching of homes by settlers in Susya, south of Hebron, are not isolated incidents but rather synchronised components of a broader strategy that human rights organisations and United Nations officials are now framing within the context of “ethnic cleansing” and forced displacement.

This report expands on the initial narratives, integrating the latest developments on the ground and providing a deeper investigative critique of the military and civilian mechanisms driving this violence.

Operation “Iron Wall” Comes To Balata: A Template Of Urban Warfare.

The raid on Balata camp, a densely populated refugee camp east of Nablus, was not a routine arrest incursion. Witnesses reported a sophisticated military operation commencing with undercover units (Mista’arvim) infiltrating the camp before military reinforcements rolled in from the Huwwara checkpoint and Jerusalem Street.

Latest Developments:

• The “Crutches” Arrest: In a development that has sparked outrage, video footage verified on Wednesday shows Israeli forces arresting a young Palestinian man on Al-Ittihad Street in Nablus who was moving on crutches. The Palestinian Prisoners’ Media Office later identified him as Ahmad Juma’a, a wounded youth who was pulled from his home near Al-Ittihad Hospital.
• Expansion of Operations: The campaign extended far beyond Balata. In a parallel action, the IOF continued its “aggression” for a second day in the village of Al-Lubban Ash-Sharqiya, south of Nablus. Soldiers converted two homes into military outposts and raided over 100 homes, conducting field interrogations and distributing threatening leaflets to residents.
• Demolitions in Jenin: Simultaneously, Israeli bulldozers moved into the village of Anza, south of Jenin, demolishing a building and several shops (including the Al-Adel cafe) belonging to Nasser al-Awad. Local council head Taysir Sadaqa stated these demolitions are part of a policy of “economic pressure and indirect displacement”.

The Balata raid exemplifies the military’s “Iron Wall” doctrine, a shift from static defence to aggressive, pre-emptive incursions aimed at dismantling Palestinian resistance networks. However, the destruction of property, the detonation of explosives at building entrances in a residential area, and the targeting of a wounded individual suggest a punitive, collective punishment approach rather than a precise counter-terror operation. The silence from the Israeli military spokesperson regarding the details of this raid, despite the widespread documentation, points to a policy of operational opacity designed to avoid international legal scrutiny.

The Hebron Arson: State-Backed Terrorism And The “Price Tag” Doctrine

While the military operated in the north, settlers launched a violent rampage in the south. In the village of Susya, located in the Masafer Yatta area a region already facing systematic displacement due to military zoning policies, dozens of illegal settlers stormed the village.

Latest Developments:

• The Attack: Settlers set fire to five Palestinian homes and several vehicles. As families attempted to extinguish the flames, the attackers fired tear gas canisters directly into homes, causing mass suffocation, particularly among women and children.
• Livestock Theft: In a related incident in Masafer Bani Na’im, east of Hebron, settlers protected by the military stole 30 sheep, killed another, and slashed the tyres of a vehicle belonging to a Palestinian detainee.
• The “Official” Response: The Israeli military issued a rare statement claiming that “IDF soldiers, Israel Police forces, and Israel Border Police soldiers were dispatched to the area of Khirbet al-Nawaj‘a” and that they “decisively condemn such incidents”.

The IDF’s response is a masterclass in obfuscation. While claiming to condemn the attacks, the military’s actions on the ground tell a different story. Residents of Susya report that the settlers were able to torch homes and fire tear gas for an extended period before any forces arrived, and even then, no settlers were detained. This pattern is consistent with what human rights groups call “passive complicity.” Furthermore, the attack on Susya must be viewed through the lens of the July 2024 International Court of Justice (ICJ) advisory opinion, which declared the occupation illegal and demanded the evacuation of all settlements. Far from evacuating, the state is actively arming and protecting these militias, allowing them to function as a paramilitary wing of the occupation.

The Strategic Goal: “Silent Transfer” And Ethnic Cleansing.

The synchronised nature of these raids, military operations in the north, settler pogroms in the south, and demolitions in between, reveals a coordinated strategy.

The UN Verdict:
A damning report released just last week by the UN Human Rights Office (February 19, 2026) raises concerns over “ethnic cleansing” by Israeli authorities in both Gaza and the West Bank. The report documents “the systematic unlawful use of force” and forcible transfers that “appear to aim at a permanent displacement” of Palestinians.

The Numbers Tell the Story:

• Displacement: Since the beginning of 2026, more than 900 Palestinian civilians have been displaced from their homes due to settler violence. In January alone, nearly 700 Palestinians were displaced, the highest monthly figure since October 2023.
• Settler Attacks: The UN has documented an unprecedented spike, with over 3,700 settler attacks reported by the end of 2025, more than the previous ten years combined.
• Casualties: Since October 7, 2023, at least 1,117 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces and settlers in the West Bank, with over 11,500 wounded and 22,000 arrested.

International Complicity And The EU’s Failure:

The international response remains anaemic. While the UN issues reports and the International Court of Justice issues opinions, the violence on the ground accelerates.

A Call for Action:
Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares provided a rare critique from within the European Union on Monday, stating that the EU’s “lack of response to Israeli violations in the West Bank and efforts to displace Palestinians is incomprehensible.” He noted that the EU has the resources to pressure Israel but has failed to utilise them effectively.

The Impunity Gap:
The UN report highlights a “pervasive climate of impunity.” No meaningful steps have been taken by Israel’s justice system to hold settlers or soldiers accountable for the wave of violence since October 7, 2023. This impunity is the fuel that powers the engine of displacement. As long as settlers know they can burn homes with impunity and soldiers know they can raid hospitals to arrest the wounded without consequence, the violence will continue to escalate.

Conclusion:

The fires that consumed homes in Susya and the explosions that rocked Balata on Wednesday are two sides of the same coin. One represents state-sanctioned military occupation, the other represents state-protected colonial settler vigilantism. Together, they are rendering the West Bank uninhabitable for Palestinians. The international community, armed with a recent ICJ ruling and urgent UN reports, stands at a crossroads: either enforce the accountability it preaches or become a silent partner in the ethnic cleansing of Palestinian territory.