Israeli forces detained several Palestinians and disrupted daily life during a raid on the Qalandiya refugee camp in the occupied West Bank on Wednesday, August 5, 2026.

During the operation, Israeli soldiers reportedly distributed leaflets announcing a "large-scale operation" was underway in the camp, south of Ramallah. The raid comes amid an increase in Israeli military operations across the occupied West Bank, with an average of 50 raids occurring daily in recent weeks, according to Al Jazeera's reporting from the camp.

Local mosques were prevented from holding dawn prayers. A journalist covering the events was severely beaten by Israeli soldiers, and a young man was reportedly run over by an Israeli military vehicle; his condition remains unknown. Footage circulating online appears to show Israeli soldiers aggressively confronting an unarmed Palestinian man before tackling him to the ground.

These actions have drawn condemnation from rights groups, who point to a pattern of raids and deteriorating living conditions in the occupied territories. The Israeli human rights organization B’Tselem has stated that such policies aim to make the territory "unlivable" for Palestinians.

Al Jazeera's Nida Ibrahim, reporting from Qalandiya, described the ongoing intimidation tactics used by Israeli forces, including assaults on individuals who appear to have no connection to any raid. She noted that stun grenades were used to disperse journalists attempting to document the events.

The purpose of the specific raid remained unclear, with Ibrahim questioning whether it was for demolitions, intelligence gathering, arrests, or simply to assert control over Palestinian areas. Israeli forces also reportedly blocked several entrances leading to the camp, with images circulating online showing piles of rocks obstructing access points.

This raid follows a directive from Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz last week, instructing the military to seize control of another refugee camp and replicate the military presence established in Jenin, Tulkarem, and Nur Shams. Human Rights Watch has previously warned that such actions could constitute ethnic cleansing and war crimes.

The repeated raids and the aggressive tactics employed by Israeli forces underscore the ongoing tensions and human rights concerns in the occupied West Bank. The constant disruption and fear of arbitrary detention contribute to the challenging living conditions faced by Palestinians in refugee camps and other areas under occupation.