Daijiworld Media Network - Nablus
Nablus, Oct 7: Israeli forces destroyed memorials dedicated to Palestinians during raids in the occupied West Bank city of Nablus on Wednesday, with footage showing an Israeli soldier smashing one of the monuments.
Israeli forces entered Nablus from several directions with military vehicles and a bulldozer, according to local sources cited by Anadolu. The forces imposed restrictions on movement in parts of the city, detained Palestinians and reportedly used a school as a field interrogation centre.
Footage from the operation showed an Israeli soldier damaging a memorial dedicated to Palestinians during the raids. Al Jazeera reported that the incident occurred as Israeli troops were carrying out raids in Nablus.
According to Nablus deputy mayor Iyad Bakeer, Israeli troops destroyed five memorials to Palestinians in different parts of the city and arrested scores of residents.
The operation was part of a wider action by Israeli forces across the northern West Bank. In Jenin, troops destroyed a stone monument and removed commemorative posters, while a memorial dedicated to Yasser Hamdouni was destroyed in the town of Ya'abad, according to local officials cited by AFP.
The Israeli military said the operations were aimed at destroying what it described as monuments to “terrorists”. Israeli officials have frequently criticised Palestinian memorials, arguing that some of them glorify attacks against Israelis.
Palestinian communities commonly use memorials and posters to commemorate people killed by Israeli forces or those who died in clashes or while imprisoned. The destruction of such monuments has therefore become a contentious issue amid heightened tensions in the occupied West Bank.
The latest raids came as Israeli forces intensified operations across the West Bank. Local sources also reported damage to Palestinian homes and property in other areas, while Israeli forces continued arrests during the raids.
The incident also follows the destruction earlier this week of a memorial at Birzeit University near Ramallah. Israeli soldiers accompanied by a military bulldozer demolished the monument, which carried the names of students and alumni killed by Israeli forces.
The Birzeit memorial had stood since the 1990s and contained the names of 38 students killed by Israeli forces, according to the university and Al Jazeera. The university condemned its destruction, while students later gathered at the site.