Israeli troops raid West Bank’s Birzeit University, seize property from student group dominated by Hamas-tied bloc

Israeli forces clash with students during a raid at Birzeit University, north of Ramallah in the West Bank, according to videos published by Palestinian media.

WAFA, the Palestinian Authority’s official news agency, says Israeli forces broke down the university’s main gate, searched several buildings and seized property from the student movement, which is dominated by a Hamas-affiliated bloc.

About 8,000 students were on campus at the time, WAFA says.

Footage from the campus shows some students fleeing as teargas canisters land behind them.

The Palestinian Red Crescent Society says 11 students were hospitalized as a result of the raid, including five for bullet wounds, four who were teargassed and two who stumbled and fell.

The IDF does not respond to a request for comment.

#شاهد| قوات الاحتلال تطلق قنابل الغاز تجاه الطلاب في جامعة بيرزيت شمال رام الله. pic.twitter.com/AUnslmPIH1

— المركز الفلسطيني للإعلام (@PalinfoAr) January 6, 2026

Other footage from the campus shows military vehicles and troops moving about, and troops and police officers can be seen searching a car and entering a building. The footage appears to show at least seven armored vehicles on the campus.

عاجل| الاحتلال يحتجز الصحفيين الزملاء معتصم سقف الحيط وكريم خمايسة عند مدخل كلية التجارة بجامعة بيرزيت. pic.twitter.com/hENmuKjpzk

— شبكة قدس | الأسرى (@asranews) January 6, 2026

According to Palestinian media, the IDF closed all the university’s gates during the raid

The daytime raid comes after the IDF carried out a predawn search at Birzeit early last month.