The Israeli occupation forces conducted raids on money exchange firms in the occupied West Bank yesterday morning, reported Wafa news agency.
According to security sources who spoke to the news site, the Israeli forces raided the street leading to Hisham Palace in Jericho, targeting Al-Khaleej and Al-Muhit stores and threw leaflets at passersby with threats stating, “Money laundering for the benefit of terrorist organisations is terrorism.”
The sources further reported that several Israeli military vehicles chased after a group of young men in the city centre, though no arrests were made.
Meanwhile, in Bethlehem, an Israeli military unit stormed the city, positioning themselves on Jerusalem-Hebron Street near Al-Radi Junction to raid a money exchange shop, confiscating all its contents.
Additionally, the forces raided the home of Alaa Abayat, 24, in the village of Al-Manshiya, based southeast of Bethlehem. Abayat, the branch manager of one of the exchange shops, was detained and subjected to a field investigation. She was also taken to her money exchange shop before being released after the raid and confiscation of the shop’s contents.
Tensions have been high across the occupied West Bank since Israel launched a deadly military offensive against Gaza in October, in which it has killed more than 38,600 Palestinians.
At least 574 Palestinians have been killed in the occupied West Bank during that time, including 136 children, and nearly 5,350 injured, according to the Health Ministry.
Israel stands accused of genocide at the International Court of Justice (ICJ).