Nablus Archives - Page 2 of 6

Farouq Ramadan: The Palestinian Who Snatched The Weapon From The Israeli Settler

marwan
July 25, 2026

On Friday morning, 24 July, the town of Tell, southwest of Nablus, witnessed not just a passing raid, but a legendary tale embodied by the heroism of an unarmed young Palestinian man.

Amidst the smoke and gunfire targeting Palestinians, the young man, Farouq Adnan Ali Ramadan, bravely stepped forward, creating an extraordinary scene in the history of popular resistance in the West Bank.

Clash at point-blank range:

The events began when groups of settlers attacked the eastern part of Tell. Residents confronted them and forced them to retreat. Just half an hour later, the settlers returned, supported by Israeli military vehicles, and stormed the western area near the Havat Gilad settlement outpost. Clashes and hand-to-hand combat erupted between unarmed residents and armed settlers.

At that critical moment, amidst the indiscriminate gunfire directed at the residents, Farouq Ramadan advanced steadily and without hesitation, breaking through the wall of fire to directly confront one of the settlers’ security personnel and guards at the outpost. In a swift and direct physical confrontation, Farouq managed to forcibly seize the automatic weapon from the guard’s hand.

Not content with disarming the assailant, Farouq immediately shifted from a defensive position to confront the source of the fire, directly firing at the settlers and occupation officers in defense of the town of Tell and its inhabitants. This confrontation resulted in the death of an Israeli officer with the rank of major and a soldier from the Jerusalem Brigade, and the wounding of others, completely disorienting the attacking force.

Four Martyrs from One Family

In response to this operation, which shook the occupation’s security apparatus and led to the closure of Nablus and the imposition of a curfew, the occupation forces brought in massive reinforcements and opened fire indiscriminately, resulting in the martyrdom of Farouq Ramadan.

Farouk Ramadan’s heroism was not an individual act, but rather one etched in the blood of four members of the same family who stood firm against the massacre. Alongside Farouk, three of his relatives and cousins—Imran Ahmed Ali Ramadan, Ibrahim Hussein Ali Ramadan, and Jawad Hussein Ali Ramadan—were martyred defending their home.

Impact of the Operation and the Occupation’s Panic

Farouk Ramadan’s bravery sparked panic within the Israeli political and security establishment. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and several ministers in his government convened emergency meetings, while the Israeli army announced the deployment of additional battalions, imposing a complete security cordon around Nablus and Tell, and storming the Nablus Specialized Hospital.

The Israeli army announced that its forces were preparing to carry out a large-scale operational activity in the West Bank, adding that soldiers’ leave had been canceled and troop deployments throughout the West Bank had been reinforced.

Farouk Adnan Ramadan and his cousins departed, leaving behind an extraordinary scene that will remain in the memory of Tell and the West Bank, and one that the occupation will also long remember. Aljazeera

News

UNESCO Places Sebastia on World Heritage ‘Danger List’

marwan
July 25, 2026

Palestine has successfully secured the inscription of the archaeological site of Sebastia on UNESCO’s List of World Heritage in Danger, Palestinian Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Hani al-Hayek announced on Friday.

The decision was made during the 48th session of the World Heritage Committee of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), held in Busan, South Korea.

The committee approved the listing of Sebastia under the emergency procedure and based on criterion (iii) of the World Heritage Convention, following the adoption of Palestine’s nomination file, which highlighted the site’s outstanding universal value as a unique testimony to the succession of civilizations and cultures that inhabited the area from the Iron Age through the Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine, Crusader, and Ottoman periods.

In its decision, the committee said Sebastia is distinguished by its multiple archaeological layers and clear historical sequence, reflecting the continuous development of an urban, political, and religious center over more than two millennia, giving the site exceptional universal value deserving protection under the World Heritage Convention.

The committee also decided to place the site on the List of World Heritage in Danger due to what it described as serious threats, including Israeli occupation-related measures, land seizure plans, projects aimed at altering the historical and archaeological character of the site, and restrictions affecting protection, management, and preservation efforts.

The Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities welcomed the decision, describing the inscription of Sebastia as a historic national achievement that reflects Palestine’s cultural significance and demonstrates its commitment to protecting its cultural heritage in accordance with international standards despite challenges posed by Israeli occupation practices. WAFA

Features

Women From The Past: Sulafa Hassan Taher Hijjawi

CrossFireArabia
July 5, 2026

Creative Palestinian Women

Poet and Researcher Sulafa Hassan Taher Hijjawi was a formidable Palestinian woman born in Nablus in 1934. She received her secondary education at Al-Aishiya School, then traveled with her family to Iraq, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in English Literature from the University of Baghdad in 1956.

However, she made a complete turnaround in 1987 and received a MA degree in Political Science.

She taught Political Science at the University of Baghdad for several years before resigning to join the Palestinian National Leadership institutions in Tunisia, where she became a political advisor to President Yasser Arafat.

After graduating, she married the Iraqi writer and poet Kadhim Jawad and became involved in Iraqi cultural life during the 1960s, working in research and translation.

She began her literary career early, publishing her poems in the Lebanese magazine “Al-Adab” (Literature).

Her activities include:

Editor of the Journal of the Center for Palestinian Studies, published by the College of Political Science at the University of Baghdad.
Joining the ranks of the Palestinian National Liberation Movement (Fatah) in 1968.
She co-founded the Palestinian Writers Union with the writer Jabra Ibrahim Jabra.
She established a branch of the General Union of Palestinian Women in Baghdad.
She represented the General Union of Writers and Journalists at the General Union of Journalists.
She was a member of the General Secretariat of the General Union of Palestinian Writers and Journalists.
She has been the Director of the Palestinian Planning Center since its establishment in 1991.

Her works include:

Palestinian Songs – a collection of poems.
Ships of Departure – a collection of poems.
A Dream, Poetry for Children – a collection of poems.
Soviet Jews – a study of social reality.
On the Political History of Palestine – Palestine the Place.

Her translations include:

Poetry of Resistance in Occupied Palestine
Lorca: The Lyre of Granada
The Creative Experience – a study in modern literature.
Edgar Alan Poe – His Life and Works
What is Criticism? – a collection of philosophical essays.
Zionist Conceptions of Return
Friends – a Japanese novel for young adults.

Features

Profiling a Palestinian Prisoner: Starvation, Medical Neglect, Brain Hemorrhage

CrossFireArabia
June 30, 2026

Palestinian journalist Mujahid Bani Mufleh is still undergoing intensive treatment six months after his release from Israeli prison, where he says he lost nearly 20 kilograms due to starvation and medical neglect before suffering a severe brain hemorrhage days after being freed.

Bani Mufleh is currently being treated at Ibn Sina Specialized Hospital in Jenin in the northern occupied West Bank. After falling into a coma, he underwent multiple surgeries, including a procedure in which part of his skull was removed. He now requires assistance with movement, swallowing and speech.

The journalist said prison conditions, including starvation and lack of medical care, severely worsened his health, particularly as he suffers from diabetes.

Speaking to Anadolu from his hospital bed, he recalled how his condition deteriorated during detention.

“I entered prison weighing 72 kilograms, and when I came out, my weight was in the early 50s,” he said.

“I lost a large part of it because of hunger. We slept hungry, and the food they gave us was not enough,” he added.

He said his condition worsened further due to lack of access to diabetes treatment.

“Since the beginning of my detention, I did not receive the proper medication, I did not undergo any medical test, and I did not know my blood sugar level. The food was very little,” he said.

Diabetes is a chronic disease in which the body either does not produce enough insulin or cannot use it effectively, leading to elevated blood glucose levels that can damage organs over time if untreated.

Israel arrested Bani Mufleh in the town of Beita, south of Nablus, in June 2025 and released him in January 2026, according to the Palestinian Prisoner’s Society.

Released into collapse

Bani Mufleh said his release came unexpectedly after his detention had been extended. He said prison authorities informed him he would be transferred, and he was not given a chance to say goodbye to other detainees.

“I was surprised that they released me. I did not even know I was going to get out,” he said.

“They took me out at midnight, and four hours later I found myself in the open, in the bitter cold of the Negev desert. I was shaking badly,” he added.

He said his health deteriorated rapidly after release. Medical tests later showed high blood sugar and blood pressure levels.

“I was doing an interview with a fellow journalist, speaking about what I had lived through in prison, and it seems that recalling those details was more than my body could bear, so I lost consciousness,” he said.

He was taken to a hospital in Nablus, where doctors diagnosed a severe brain hemorrhage. He later fell into a coma and underwent successive surgeries.

Life after detention

After regaining consciousness, Bani Mufleh said his life had changed completely and he is now unable to perform basic daily tasks.

“I was a person full of life. I worked for long hours. Today, I am almost unable to do the simplest tasks,” he said.

“I need others to help me move and get around. I lost the ability to speak and swallow, and I am still going through a long treatment journey,” he added.

He said his condition has also affected his relationship with his three children.

“I used to spend a lot of time at home beside them, teaching them and providing everything they needed. Today, I can no longer do that,” he said.

“I miss their laughter, and I hope to return to the father I used to be,” he added.

‘A photo that shows the truth’

Bani Mufleh said a Facebook post showing his post-surgery condition was intended to document his experience after detention.

The image shows part of his skull removed following brain surgery, with visible signs of severe weight loss.

“I wanted to show people the truth,” he said.

“Many friends objected to publishing the photo because they said it was not beautiful, but I have nothing to fear. Here I am today, and this is my condition,” he added.

He said he continues to think about his life before imprisonment, including his work in journalism and farming.

“I miss the old Mujahid,” he said, adding that he had cultivated land with dozens of trees before his arrest.

“My wife and children are always around me, and they hope I will return to the way I was,” he said.

Thousands of cases

The Palestinian Prisoner’s Society said last week that Israeli prisons have become a tool of “slow and direct killing” against Palestinian detainees.

It said Bani Mufleh’s case reflects wider conditions faced by thousands of Palestinians, including starvation, medical neglect and other violations in custody.

The group said more than 245 Palestinian journalists have been detained by Israel since the start of the war in Gaza in October 2023.

It added that Israeli forces have carried out near-daily raids across the occupied West Bank since October 2023, resulting in widespread arrests and searches.

According to Palestinian figures, Israel has arrested about 23,000 Palestinians from the West Bank since Oct. 7, 2023, including women, children and former prisoners.

News

Israeli Settlers Uproot 400 Olive Trees

CrossFireArabia
April 27, 2026

Israeli settlers are on the rampage. Their latest vandalism is the destruction of 400 olive trees in the village of Turmus Aya, northeast of Ramallah West Bank.

Sources say settlers from the settlement of ‘Adi Ad’ which was established on the lands of the village came down to its groves, Saturday night, and proceeded to fell the trees.

The attack came days after the settlers set fire to a house and a car in the village as part of an increase in attacks against the people and property of the village according to a media report.

According to the Palestinian Wall and Settlement Resistance Commission, Israeli forces and settlers, who are also referred to as colonists, carried out 1,819 attacks last March, according to Palestinian news agency Wafa. It added this is part of a systematic campaign in a systematic campaign targeting Palestinian people, land, and property.

The Israeli occupation continues to uproot olive trees in different Palestinian villages, towns and cities with no apparent reason and employing bulldozers if the acts are carried out by the Israeli army to make sure the trees no longer exist.

As well as Turmus Aya, there has been an increase of uprooting of trees in Nablus, Burqa village and Jenin.

According to the Palestinian commission the Israeli army is responsible for 1,322 of these attacks, while settlers carried out 497 acts of vandalism, adding Hebron topped the attacks at 321, Nablus 315, Ramallah and Al-Bireh 292, and Jerusalem 203.