West bank raids escalate as water lines destroyed

Israeli forces carried out raids across the occupied West Bank, destroying water pipelines, detaining Palestinians and advancing plans for a new settlement near Jerusalem.

In Tubas governorate, Israeli forces destroyed water pipelines in the Atouf and Ras al-Ahmar areas, Palestinian activist Aref Daraghmeh told local media. 

He said the operations have also involved agricultural land clearing, damage to water networks and the filling of artesian wells, causing losses for farmers.

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has separately reported growing damage to Palestinian water infrastructure across the West Bank. 

Meanwhile, Palestinian authorities said Israel has advanced plans for a settlement of around 650 housing units south of Jerusalem. 

The proposed Nofei Rachel project would cover about 27 dunams adjacent to Palestinian homes. Similar plans for Nofei Rachel have previously been reported as involving around 650 units near the Palestinian neighborhood of Umm Tuba.