The Israeli military has been accused of intentionally ramming a vehicle transporting Palestinian pilgrims in the occupied West Bank.
According to accounts from eyewitnesses and local officials, the incident occurred early Saturday in Jenin, a city in the northern West Bank. A minibus carrying Palestinian pilgrims en route to Saudi Arabia via Jordan was reportedly struck by an Israeli army vehicle outside the Jenin governorate building.
Palestinian officials claim the military vehicle deliberately collided with the parked minibus, causing distress among the passengers, many of whom were elderly individuals heading to perform Hajj. Though no injuries were reported, the vehicle sustained damage, and the incident triggered fear and anxiety among those on board.
Deputy Governor of Jenin, Mansour Al-Saadi, confirmed the details of the event, condemning the actions of the Israeli forces.
This development comes amid rising tensions in the region. On the same day, Israel announced it would block a high-level diplomatic meeting planned in Ramallah, the administrative capital of the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank. According to an Israeli official, the meeting was deemed “provocative,” as it was reportedly intended to promote discussions on the establishment of a Palestinian state.
The blocked delegation was expected to include foreign ministers from Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates. Their entry into the West Bank from Jordan required Israeli approval, which was not granted.
An Israeli official defended the move, claiming the envisioned Palestinian state would turn into “a terrorist state in the heart of the land of Israel,” and asserted that Israel would not support efforts that undermine its security.
The situation unfolds as preparations are underway for an international conference in New York, co-hosted by France and Saudi Arabia from June 17 to 20, focusing on the recognition of Palestinian statehood.
French President Emmanuel Macron recently stressed that acknowledging a Palestinian state is both a “moral duty” and a “political necessity,” reflecting growing global support for a two-state solution.
