IDF raids Palestinian publishers over ‘inciting’ content

Israeli security forces on Saturday night descended on the offices of two Palestinian publishing houses in the West Bank city of Hebron and confiscated equipment, over accusations that they had printed and distributed propaganda for the Hamas terror group as well as material that incited violence against Israelis.

A video posted online appeared to show a convoy of IDF vehicles arriving at the headquarters of the Infinity and Lamsat publishing houses, and, after the raid, the damaged offices with equipment strewn on the floor.

As part of ongoing efforts to clamp down on what Jerusalem says is ongoing Palestinian incitement against Israel, printed materials and office equipment found at the headquarters were confiscated by IDF and the Civil Administration of the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories Unit.

Nearby, in Idhna, a village just outside Hebron, Israeli security forces confiscated a number of makeshift rifles Saturday night.

IDF and Border Police raids in the West Bank overnight Saturday also saw the arrest of eight Palestinian suspects, the army said. They were arrested near the northern Palestinian city of Jenin. According to reports, two of the suspects were members of the Hamas terror group.

Last month, the IDF shut down three Palestinian radio stations amid persistent Israeli claims that the recent wave of deadly Palestinian attacks against Israelis has been spurred by incitement in social and traditional media.

Last week, in what appeared to be an effort to curb the almost-daily clashes between Israeli soldiers and Palestinians, the Palestinian Authority instructed its broadcasting authority to indefinitely suspend Hamas’s Al-Aqsa TV programming in the West Bank. Israeli watchdog groups have long-claimed Al-Aqsa TV promotes terrorist activity, teaches anti-Semitism and incites hatred of Israelis, especially in its programming for children.