Earlier this morning, Israeli occupation forces carried out a military incursion into Wadi Burqin, located west of the city of Jenin in the occupied West Bank. The operation resulted in the abduction of four Palestinian young men: Moslim Masarwa, Khaled Al-Masri, Musab Iyad Al-Damj, and Ahmed Al-Jadaoun.
Eyewitnesses reported that heavily armed units stormed residential areas, deploying drones and surrounding multiple homes before seizing the individuals. Notably, both Moslim Masarwa and Ahmed Al-Jadaoun are identified as field commanders within the Jenin Brigade, a key faction of the armed Palestinian resistance in the area.
Their detention marks a significant blow to the local resistance network, which has been central to recent confrontations with the occupation forces. Moslim Masarwa has long been a target of both Israeli forces and the Palestinian Authority (PA), particularly during the PA's controversial siege on Jenin Camp.
That episode was marked by internal Palestinian tensions and culminated in the killing of Masarwa’s close comrade, Yazid Ja’aysa, who was fatally shot by PA forces. This past involvement underscores the broader fragmentation and complexities within Palestinian governance and resistance strategies.
The arrest operation this morning triggered brief but intense clashes between residents and the invading forces. Locals threw stones and improvised explosives, while Israeli units responded with live fire and tear gas.
No injuries have been confirmed at the time of reporting, but the atmosphere in Wadi Burqin remains tense and volatile. Jenin has become a flashpoint of resistance in the West Bank, with the Jenin Brigade often at the forefront of defying both occupation raids and internal crackdowns.
The latest abductions are likely to stoke further unrest, particularly among youth factions who view figures like Masarwa and Al-Jadaoun as symbols of steadfastness against both external occupation and internal repression. This development adds to the mounting tensions in the West Bank, where Israeli military operations have intensified in recent months, often resulting in fatalities, arrests, and destruction of infrastructure.
International observers continue to express concern over the use of excessive force and the rising number of political detainees in the occupied territories.
