Tue May 27 16:38:38 UTC 2025: ## Israeli Forces Raid West Bank Money Exchanges, Sparking Outrage
**West Bank -** Israeli forces conducted widespread raids on money exchange shops across the occupied West Bank on Tuesday, leaving at least one Palestinian dead and dozens injured, according to Palestinian officials and local reports. The raids, impacting cities including Ramallah, Nablus, Hebron, Jenin, and Bethlehem, have drawn sharp condemnation from Palestinian groups who accuse Israel of economic warfare.
Residents reported that Israeli soldiers stormed exchange shops, including one belonging to the Al-Khaleej company in Nablus, using live ammunition and tear gas. The Palestinian Ministry of Health confirmed one fatality and eight injuries from live ammunition in Nablus, while the Palestine Red Crescent Society treated dozens for tear gas inhalation and injuries from rubber bullets.
Israeli Army Radio claimed the raids targeted exchanges suspected of supporting “terrorism,” resulting in the confiscation of funds allegedly destined for “terrorism infrastructure.” Leaflets left at the Al-Khaleej exchange in Ramallah echoed these accusations, citing the company’s “connections with terrorist organizations.”
Al Jazeera’s Hamdah Salhut, reporting from Amman, stated that Israeli authorities have not released an official statement but cited an unnamed official who said Israel “believes” these exchanges are funnelling money to terror organizations, without providing concrete evidence. She further noted this was the fourth such raid since the beginning of the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
Palestinian groups have vehemently denounced the operation. Hamas condemned the raids as “a new chapter in the occupation’s open war against the Palestinian people,” accusing Israel of “piracy policies” and targeting legally operating businesses. They urged the Palestinian Authority to take action against the Israeli attacks. The Palestinian Mujahideen Movement echoed these sentiments, calling the raids “part of the open war against our people” and urging the Palestinian Authority to cease security coordination with Israel.
The raids come amidst an intensified Israeli military campaign in Gaza, which has resulted in a staggering number of Palestinian casualties and a severe humanitarian crisis. The timing has fueled further outrage among Palestinians, who view the raids as another form of collective punishment and economic oppression. The situation remains tense, with the potential for further escalation in the occupied West Bank.
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