Daijiworld Media Network – Jerusalem
Jerusalem, Jul 2: Israeli security forces detained five Palestinian women during overnight raids across the occupied West Bank on Wednesday, according to their families and Palestinian rights groups, amid a reported rise in the number of women being arrested since the start of the Israel-Hamas war.
The raids were carried out in Hebron, Ramallah, Nablus and Bethlehem.
In Hebron, Israeli forces arrested Itaf Badr, a board member of the Union of Health Work Committees, a Palestinian medical charity. Her husband, Abdelrahman Badr, said soldiers arrived at their home shortly after 1 a.m., took her away for questioning and later blindfolded and handcuffed her before placing her in a military vehicle.
In Nablus, Israeli forces also arrested Maiser al-Faqih, a former detainee and another member associated with the same health organisation. Her husband, Wael al-Faqih, said the family had not been informed of the reason for her arrest.
The Israeli military referred questions about the arrests in Ramallah and Nablus to the Border Police and said it was checking details regarding the arrest in Hebron. It did not immediately comment on the reasons behind the detentions.
According to Abdullah Al-Zaghari, head of the Palestinian Prisoners' Club, women now account for a small but increasing share of Palestinians held in Israeli detention, reflecting a broader expansion of arrests beyond men and boys.
Data cited by the organisation shows the number of Palestinian women and girls in Israeli custody has more than doubled since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war and has risen by around 80 per cent since the beginning of 2026. Fifteen women have reportedly been arrested since early June, bringing the total number of female detainees to 99.
Rights groups say some women have been detained over social media posts critical of Israel's occupation of the West Bank or the war in Gaza, while others were active in student branches of Palestinian political organisations. Many have reportedly been held under Israel's administrative detention policy, which allows authorities to detain individuals without formal charges for renewable six-month periods.
Last month, Israeli forces arrested at least five other young women, including four members of the Palestinian national women's football team and 20-year-old Palestinian-American Sama Saif. The Israeli military said they were suspected of promoting terrorist activities. At least one of the women has since been released, while the others remain in custody without formal charges, according to their lawyers.
Israel has accused the Union of Health Work Committees of maintaining links with the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), which it designates as a terrorist organisation. The charity has denied the allegation.