Israeli forces unleashed another wave of overnight raids across the occupied West Bank on Saturday, detaining over 25 Palestinians in a wide-reaching campaign that has left families shattered and communities shaken. Among those arrested was journalist Mujahid Bani Muflih, seized from his home in Beita, south of Nablus, a stark reminder of the crackdown not only on political resistance, but also on voices documenting the occupation.

The raids, which targeted multiple towns including Asira al-Qibliya, Madama, Urif, Tel, and Zawata, involved violent home invasions, arbitrary arrests, and widespread intimidation. In Urif, entire families were targeted, including relatives of Palestinians killed in resistance operations. Homes were ransacked, and the elderly were reportedly beaten during the searches. The arrests extended beyond fighters or political figures, academics, former prisoners, and even parents and siblings were dragged from their homes.

In Salfit and Qalqilya, arrests followed a familiar pattern: swift, aggressive raids carried out in the middle of the night, often accompanied by property destruction and physical abuse. The targeting of family members of those previously involved in resistance has been described by Palestinian rights groups as a deliberate tactic of collective punishment, in clear violation of international law.

These escalations come amid rising tensions across the West Bank, where life under occupation has become increasingly volatile. Israel claims these operations are preventive measures against militancy, but for Palestinians, they are part of a larger campaign aimed at silencing dissent, dismantling social cohesion, and instilling fear.

While Gaza faces a war of bombs, the West Bank lives under a war of shadows, where arrests, intimidation, and silence are enforced with equal brutality.