Israeli forces have placed the West Bank town of Qabatiya under lockdown as security operations continued for a second day following a deadly attack in northern Israel linked to a resident of the town.
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said that the military was “operating forcefully against terror hubs in the village of Qabatiya,” adding that the operation includes a full closure and cordon around the area. He reiterated that Israel would continue what he called an “uncompromising offensive policy” against attacks targeting Israelis.
Residents inside Qabatiya described difficult conditions under the lockdown. Bilal Hunaisha, who lives in the town south of Jenin, said the community felt it was facing collective punishment. He explained that rubble now blocks access to his home, restricting movement for families trying to go about their daily lives.
The heightened security measures follow an attack on Friday in which two people were killed in northern Israel. According to Israeli police, a 34-year-old Palestinian man who had been working in Israel without a permit used his employer’s vehicle to ram a 68-year-old man and later fatally stabbed an 18-year-old woman. Security forces subsequently began operations in Qabatiya, searching the attacker’s home and questioning suspects.
Israel’s army chief Eyal Zamir has ordered additional troops into the area, noting that recent incidents have involved individuals acting alone and people staying in Israel without permits. He called for stronger enforcement against those who transport or employ them, while also emphasizing the need to expand preventive capabilities.
Some residents reported detentions and extended questioning. One man, Muhannad Zakarneh, said he was arrested at home early in the morning and handcuffed for hours without being told the reason. The official Palestinian news agency Wafa also reported that Israeli forces took control of a school building and used it as a temporary detention and interrogation site.
Violence has escalated across the region since the outbreak of the Gaza war in October 2023. According to official tallies, dozens have been killed inside Israel in attacks by Palestinians, while more than a thousand Palestinians in the West Bank have died in raids, clashes, or other incidents during the same period. Casualties include both civilians and combatants on each side.
Behind these numbers are families — parents, children, and entire communities trying to live ordinary lives amid extraordinary tension. In Qabatiya and beyond, people wake up each day hoping for dignity, safety, and the simple peace of going to work, school, or prayer without fear. Whatever one’s politics, the human cost is real: homes disrupted, futures put on hold, and grief that crosses every border. The story is not only about operations and statistics, but about people who deserve a life without lockdowns, attacks, or loss.
