Israeli forces carried out an operation in Nablus in the occupied West Bank, demolishing monuments and signs dedicated to Palestinians Israel considers militants and detaining people on suspicion of incitement. The military said about 200 people were detained during the operation.
The Israeli outlet Ynet reported that the operation began at midnight on Oct. 7 and involved two reserve battalions and the Nahal Brigade’s 931st Battalion. A brigade commander told the outlet that troops had been in the area for about three weeks and aimed to prevent another attack like Oct. 7.
Military units reported seizing money they said was intended for terrorism, along with ammunition, body armor and drones. They also distributed leaflets and posted warnings for residents. These claims could not be independently verified from the available reports.
The military said it demolished 14 monuments and signs honoring militants during the overnight operation. Ynet reported that about 200 people linked to Hamas were detained, questioned or arrested on suspicion of incitement ahead of the Oct. 7 anniversary.
Palestinian and international reports also described demolitions in Nablus. ANSA, citing the city’s deputy mayor, reported that five memorials were destroyed in the city and dozens of residents were detained. The Ynet and ANSA accounts differ in the operation’s scope and the figures they provide.
Ynet said the demolitions had been planned in advance and carried out after required legal approvals. The report contrasted the operation with an earlier incident in which Israeli lawmaker Zvi Sukkot personally smashed a monument in a Palestinian village. The military said the latest operation was not connected to his actions.
Border Police units and military engineers also took part. Israel’s military described the monuments as incitement sites. Palestinians regard them as memorials to people who died.