Israel Imposes Collective Punishment on Thousands in West Bank After Deadly Jerusalem Attack

Following a deadly shooting attack in East Jerusalem that killed six Israelis, the Israeli government imposed collective punishments targeting Palestinians in West Bank villages of Al-Qubeiba and Qatanna. Defense Minister Israel Katz ordered the demolition of homes built without permits, revoked 750 Palestinians' work and entry permits to Israel, and sanctioned the suspects' family members, actions criticized by Palestinians and human rights groups as collective punishment prohibited under international law. Israeli forces conducted raids, blocked roads, and detained many Palestinians amid heightened tensions linked to the ongoing Israeli assault on Gaza, which has resulted in over 64,600 deaths since October 2023. Meanwhile, Israeli prisons have reportedly become sites of intensified repression with the introduction of stun guns, rubber bullets, and other new weapons against Palestinian detainees; human rights organizations and Hamas condemned these measures as violations of international law and a form of slow execution. Hamas called on international human rights institutions to hold Israel accountable for the safety of Palestinian prisoners and condemned the use of torture and electric shocks as part of a retaliatory policy. The escalation reflects a broader context of violence and repression affecting Palestinians both in the occupied territories and in Israeli custody.