Palestinian Authority Detains Suspects in Jericho Property Sales to Settlers

The Palestinian Authority has detained several suspects in connection with the sale of residential properties in the West Bank to Israeli settlers. These transactions occurred on the outskirts of Jericho and are considered a violation of Palestinian Authority laws, which restrict the transfer of land to citizens of what the PA designates as an enemy state.

Anwar Rajab, a spokesman for PA security forces, confirmed the arrests on Palestinian radio. He stated that the individuals are suspected of facilitating the takeover of land in the Ad-Duyuk area of Jericho. According to reports from the Saudi newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat, the suspects include brokers who managed the transfer of the homes. They have been remanded in custody for 15 days.

The incident followed a move last week by several dozen settlers linked to the Nachala settlement organization. This group took up residence in eight buildings in the Jericho suburb. Nachala announced the purchase only after the settlers had already entered the homes, describing the operation as secretive. The organization claimed the transaction was carried out with the cooperation of the Binyamin Regional Council, a state-funded municipal authority for settlements.

The specific location, Ad-Duyuk al-Tahta, is situated in Area C of the West Bank. Under the Oslo Accords, this zone falls under full Israeli civil and security control. It is adjacent to the city of Jericho, which has a population of over 20,000 and lies in Area A, a region under full Palestinian Authority administration. Reports indicate that the purchased homes were built on Israeli state land by Palestinians who were constructing them illegally.

There is some ambiguity regarding the ownership of the land. The Binyamin Regional Council asserted that the buildings stand on state land. However, observers note that it is unclear how the council could have purchased the property if it had not initially been privately owned by Palestinians. Such property takeovers have drawn criticism, with settler groups frequently accused of pressuring locals and falsifying documents to secure ownership. These disputes are more commonly reported in the West Bank city of Hebron.

The arrests come amid a surge in settler violence in recent months. Daily attacks and harassment have become prevalent, with few perpetrators facing charges or convictions. Some incidents have targeted diplomats and journalists, sparking international backlash. Critics have accused the outgoing government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, which includes far-right parties, of failing to address the issue and hindering security forces from taking action.

Violence continued on Monday, as Palestinian media published footage of a settler slapping a Palestinian woman in the Khallet al-Hummus area of the South Hebron Hills. The settler was grazing sheep near the entrance to the woman's home. After the slap, he asked if she was threatening him with a stick, while another settler filmed the incident. This area has been a site of tension since settlers invaded the lands approximately six months ago.

In a separate incident near the village of Beita, south of Nablus, settlers set fire to three excavators and several other vehicles in an industrial area. Social media footage showed flames at multiple locations, though no injuries were reported. A few hours earlier, settler-affiliated media reported that Palestinians had set fire to two vehicles at an outpost in the same area, also with no reported injuries.

Meanwhile, the Israeli Defense Forces announced the capture of 10 Palestinians affiliated with the Palestinian Islamic Jihad group. The military stated that the suspects were planning an attack on Israeli civilians. Soldiers from the Paratroopers Brigade’s Reconnaissance Unit and the Duvdevan Commando Unit, along with Border Police, raided the village of Arraba near Jenin based on intelligence from the Shin Bet.

The troops simultaneously searched 10 different buildings in the village and located all wanted suspects within half an hour. The IDF said the group had acted to establish a terror network in the northern West Bank. The suspects were handed over to the Shin Bet and Israel Police for further questioning.