Israeli military forces conducted a violent raid on Birzeit University near Ramallah on Tuesday, employing live ammunition and tear gas against students and faculty members. The assault resulted in over forty casualties, primarily students, with graphic evidence showing blood trails across the campus grounds.
Approximately 8,000 students became trapped within the university premises during the military operation, according to Palestine’s Government Communication Centre. Visual documentation from the scene depicts chaotic scenes of students fleeing as security forces deployed grenades into crowds.
The incursion reportedly followed student-organized activities expressing solidarity with Palestinian detainees in Israeli prisons. Witness accounts confirmed that Israeli forces breached the main university gate using approximately twenty military vehicles before dispersing throughout the academic facility.
University President Talal Shahwan characterized the event as “a sad day for Birzeit University and for higher education in Palestine and the world.” He emphasized this was not an isolated occurrence, noting repeated military intrusions onto the campus. Shahwan issued an urgent appeal to international educational communities and global organizations to protect academic freedom and ensure safety for university personnel.
This incident coincides with intensified Israeli military operations across the West Bank, including Monday’s widespread arrests targeting journalists, minors, and refugees. Local sources report aggressive search operations and intimidation tactics during these campaigns.
Human rights organizations have documented a significant escalation in arbitrary detentions and civilian casualties since the beginning of Israel’s military operations in Gaza, with over 1,000 Palestinian fatalities recorded in the past two years, including 217 minors.