Israeli army withdraws after two-day raid in East Jerusalem refugee camp

The Israeli army withdrew from the Qalandiya refugee camp after a large-scale raid that left at least 51 Palestinians wounded. The operation began on Wednesday, when dozens of military vehicles stormed the camp before dawn, carrying boxes, equipment and maps. Soldiers deployed across several neighbourhoods as home raids and searches continued. Meanwhile, a number of homes and other buildings were seized and turned into detention and field interrogation centres. According to the Palestinian Prisoners’ Society, Israeli forces had detained or subjected more than 60 Palestinians, including women and children, to field interrogation. Qalandiya camp is home to more than 15,000 Palestinian refugees living in a densely populated area. Its location between Jerusalem and Ramallah, close to Israeli settlements and other Israeli-controlled areas, has made it a frequent target of Israeli military raids over the years. Israeli soldiers patrol along a busy street during a military raid in the Qalandiya refugee camp, on 5 August 2026 (Zain Jaafar/AFP) Israeli soldiers do searches during a military raid in the Qalandiya refugee camp, on 5 August 2026 (Zain Jaafar/AFP) An Israeli soldier aims his weapons along a busy street during a military raid in the Qalandiya refugee camp, on 5 August 2026 (Zain Jaafar/AFP)