The Israeli army today raided several villages and towns in the West Bank as part of its punitive operations in the territory, where growing tension is reported over aggression against the Gaza Strip.

Some 20 military vehicles stormed at dawn in this city, headquarters of the Palestinian National Authority, and in the neighboring town of Al Bireh, according to the official Wafa news agency.

The source said that in both cases clashes broke out between the soldiers and Palestinian youths.

The military also entered the city of Bethlehem, where they arrested the head of a non-governmental organization and a young man after raiding their respective homes.

In the northern West Bank, soldiers entered the villages of Salem and Talfit in the Nablus Governorate.

The villages of Yatta, Al-Samu, Beit Ummar and Dura in Hebron governorate were also targeted by Israeli operations.

According to Wafa, IDF special units raided Al Fara refugee camp, where explosions were heard as a result of clashes with militiamen.

Israeli troops also searched Kafr Qaddum and Jinsafut villages in Qalqilya governorate, and Rummana, Zabuba and Al-Taybeh in Jenin governorate.

Since the beginning of the new cycle of violence in the region on October 7, the army has killed 256 Palestinians in the West Bank and wounded more than 3,250.