Israeli Internal Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has approved the arming of residents in 18 settlements, according to reports. This decision coincides with a surge in Israeli military activity in the West Bank, including arrests and reported injuries.
According to reports, Ben-Gvir authorized the measure, allowing residents of these additional settlements in the West Bank, including the Sanur settlement in the northern West Bank, to bear arms. This move follows similar decisions made between late October and December, granting residents of 23 settlements the right to obtain personal weapons licenses. Figures from Ben-Gvir’s office suggest that over 240,000 Israelis have received gun licenses since the expansion of the arms program.
Separately, reports indicate that the Israeli military has begun transporting equipment and mobile units to the Sanur settlement near Jenin to establish a permanent military presence. This development is allegedly part of a broader settlement vision aimed at “restoring Israeli sovereignty to the area and returning to previously evacuated outposts.” The situation in Sanur is expected to change significantly as efforts to develop the settlement and relocate settlers there intensify.
In parallel, Israeli forces have continued raids in various areas of the West Bank, including the city of Nablus and the vicinity of the Qalandiya refugee camp north of Jerusalem. Local sources reported that Israeli soldiers targeted a vehicle with a gas grenade, causing injuries to its occupants. The Palestinian Red Crescent reported that a citizen was injured by Israeli forces’ gunfire near the separation wall in the town of Al-Ram, north of occupied Jerusalem. Seven Palestinians, including a released prisoner, were arrested from different areas in the West Bank following extensive raids that included the storming and searching of Palestinian homes.
These events highlight the escalating tensions and ongoing security concerns in the West Bank, prompting concerns from international observers.
