Israeli occupation forces launched a large-scale military operation in Qalandiya and Kafr Aqab, sealing roads, removing barrier sections, deploying snipers, and shutting schools across north Jerusalem.
Israeli occupation forces launched a wide military operation on Monday in the Qalandiya refugee camp and the town of Kafr Aqab, north of occupied East Jerusalem, sealing roads, deploying reinforcements, and carrying out demolitions that disrupted civilian life during the morning rush, according to Palestinian officials and local media.
The Jerusalem Governorate said Israeli forces stormed al-Quds Road adjacent to Qalandiya camp, positioning themselves along Institute Street before advancing toward Airport Road, significantly increasing their military presence in the area.
According to the governorate, Israeli forces removed sections of the separation barrier at the end of Airport Road to allow dozens of military vehicles to enter the area surrounding the former Jerusalem International Airport.
The raid coincided with peak school hours, triggering panic and confusion among residents as roads were sealed and heavy military vehicles spread through residential areas. Local authorities announced the suspension of school classes due to severe traffic disruption and concerns for students’ safety.
جانب من اقتحام قوات الاحتلال محيط مخيم قلنديا شمال القدس المحتلة. pic.twitter.com/4T1IY0aVjw
— شبكة قدس الإخبارية (@qudsn) January 26, 2026
Snipers, Raids, and Demolitions
Israeli snipers were deployed on rooftops overlooking Airport Road in Kafr Aqab. In contrast, Israeli occupation forces evacuated the Popular Committee headquarters in the Qalandiya camp and converted it into a temporary military post.
Local media said Israeli forces fired tear gas, stun grenades, live ammunition, and rubber-coated bullets during the operation, as residents reported widespread intimidation and the use of force against civilians.
According to data released by the Jerusalem Governorate, Israeli bulldozers began demolishing Palestinian structures in Kafr Aqab under the pretext of lacking building permits. The demolitions were described as part of a broader effort to consolidate Israeli control along the route of the separation wall.
Israeli troops reportedly raided several residential buildings, forcibly evacuated residents from some apartments, and deployed soldiers and snipers on rooftops and balconies. Vehicles belonging to Palestinians were also ticketed and deliberately damaged, in what officials described as a policy of collective punishment.
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“New Facts on the Ground”
Zakariya Fiala, director of the Jerusalem Governorate’s office in Qalandiya camp, said Israeli forces stormed the office early in the morning, ordered those inside to leave, and used the building as a military position.
Speaking to Al-Jazeera, Fiala said it was difficult to assess the full scale of demolitions due to restricted access but noted that the operation targets a 700-meter stretch along Airport Road and the camp’s perimeter.
He warned that the campaign aims to impose new facts on the ground, citing Israeli plans to establish recreational and public facilities in areas between Airport Road and the separation wall. Residents, however, say many of the targeted buildings have stood for years alongside the wall.
Arrests and Raids across West Bank
The operation in Qalandiya came amid a broader wave of Israeli raids across Jerusalem and the occupied West Bank.
According to Al Mayadeen and Quds News Network, Israeli forces arrested a former prisoner during an overnight raid on the Qalandiya camp. Additional arrests were reported in Halhul and Beit Ummar in the Hebron governorate, as well as in Kobar, north of Ramallah, where two teenagers were detained.
Israeli forces also closed the Atara military checkpoint north of Ramallah and erected a new checkpoint at the entrance to Nabi Saleh, further restricting movement.
In Nablus, Israeli troops raided Balata refugee camp, beating residents and injuring at least five Palestinians, according to the Palestinian Red Crescent. Homes were searched and ransacked during the incursion.
Further raids were reported in Tulkarm, Tubas, Jenin, Bethlehem, and Hebron (Al-Khalil), where Israeli forces turned several homes into military barracks and detained dozens, including children and a Palestinian Legislative Council member.
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Escalation since Gaza Genocide
Palestinian officials say Israeli military operations, arrests, home demolitions, and movement restrictions across the West Bank and East Jerusalem have sharply escalated since the start of Israel’s genocide in Gaza in October 2023.
Human rights groups warn that the combination of large-scale raids, infrastructure destruction, and restrictions on education and mobility is deepening humanitarian and social pressures on Palestinian communities, particularly in refugee camps and areas isolated by the separation wall.
(PC, AJA, AA, WAFA, QNN, Palestinian Media)
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