The Israeli military has been accused of deliberately ramming a vehicle transporting Palestinian Hajj pilgrims in the occupied West Bank.
According to the Palestinian news agency Wafa, the incident occurred early Saturday in the northern West Bank city of Jenin. Eyewitnesses and officials reported that an Israeli army vehicle struck a minibus carrying Palestinian pilgrims who were en route to Saudi Arabia via Jordan. The vehicle was parked outside the Jenin governorate compound at the time.
Deputy Governor of Jenin, Mansour Al-Saadi, confirmed that the collision appeared intentional and caused considerable panic among the elderly passengers, although no injuries were reported. The minibus was damaged in the incident, adding to the distress of those aboard.
This development coincided with heightened tensions as Israel blocked a planned meeting in Ramallah, the administrative capital of the Palestinian Authority. The meeting was to include Arab ministers from Jordan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, who were reportedly prevented from entering the West Bank without Israeli approval.
An Israeli official claimed the ministers were planning to participate in what was described as “a provocative meeting” aimed at advancing the recognition of a Palestinian state. The official stated that Israel views such efforts as a threat to its national security, asserting that any future Palestinian state would pose a danger in the heart of Israel.
Israel has made it clear it will not support or facilitate actions it perceives as undermining its sovereignty or security interests.
