• Israeli forces launched a significant military operation in Tubas, West Bank, targeting Palestinian neighborhoods.
• The operation involves heavy reinforcements and the use of Apache helicopters, resulting in forced displacements.
• Governor Ahmed Al-Asaad condemned the actions, asserting they aim to alter demographics in the region.

Israeli security forces initiated a major military operation in the northern West Bank city of Tubas on Wednesday, described by local officials as targeting Palestinian neighborhoods. Tubas Governor Ahmed Al-Asaad noted that Israeli forces encircled the city with the support of Apache helicopters, which opened fire in the area. He indicated that the operation could last several days, displacing numerous families as troops conducted house-to-house searches and commandeered residential rooftops for military use, according to Reuters and India Times.

Residents reported that military bulldozers effectively sealed off the Tubas governorate, with heavy reinforcements deployed and roads blocked, crippling access to the area. Governor Al-Asaad emphasized that the military interventions were less about security than about advancing territorial claims, which he argued imposed new realities in the region. The situation has escalated to a point where local authorities have suspended public institutions, including schools, due to the ongoing military curfew, as outlined by Al Jazeera and Middle East Eye.

The assault on Tubas continues a worrying trend in the West Bank, where escalated violence and military presence have been noted since attacks by Hamas in October 2023. Human rights groups have warned that these actions may constitute collective punishment and potentially ethnic cleansing, as they forcibly remove families from their homes. Reports indicate that during the operation, at least two Palestinians were hospitalized after being beaten by soldiers, highlighting the dangers faced by civilians during these military incursions, according to Middle East Eye and Al Jazeera.

In the aftermath, humanitarian workers and local officials have raised alarms regarding the lack of access to medical services for those in urgent need, as roadblocks prevent ambulances from reaching patients. The Israeli military, while claiming to target militant activities, has faced scrutiny from various human rights organizations for its methods, which reportedly include widespread arbitrary detentions and violence against unarmed civilians, as reported in the findings of Al Jazeera and India Times.