IDF says Birzeit University raid aimed to disrupt pro-terror gathering

The IDF says the raid on Birzeit University earlier today was prompted by intelligence indicating that a “gathering in support of terrorism” was expected to take place on campus.

According to the military, IDF troops and Border Police officers entered the university area as the gathering began, used crowd-dispersal measures and fired warning shots only, eventually dispersing the crowd.

The IDF says that later, an additional violent disturbance developed involving hundreds of suspects, during which stones and rocks were thrown from rooftops at Israeli forces, posing what it describes as an immediate threat. Troops responded with additional crowd-control measures and live fire directed at “central violent instigators.”

Earlier, Palestinian media reported that Israeli forces raided the campus north of Ramallah, clashing with students and firing tear gas. The Palestinian Red Crescent Society said 11 students were hospitalized, including five with bullet wounds.

WAFA, the Palestinian Authority’s official news agency, said Israeli forces broke into campus buildings and seized property belonging to a Hamas-affiliated student bloc.