Israeli forces raid Birzeit University, destroy Palestinian murals in West Bank
The murals of Palestinian martyrs and national figures that were destroyed by Israeli forces in the village of Al-Tabaqa, south of Hebron
The Palestine Chronicle reports on 29 June 2026:
Key Developments
- Israeli occupation forces raided Birzeit University near Ramallah, assaulting a security guard and damaging campus facilities.
- University officials said examinations would proceed as scheduled despite the raid.
- Israeli soldiers destroyed murals depicting prominent Palestinian martyrs and cultural figures in Al-Tabaqa village.
Israeli forces raided Birzeit University in the central occupied West Bank early Monday, assaulting a security guard and damaging university property before withdrawing, while in a separate incident soldiers destroyed murals depicting prominent Palestinian martyrs and cultural figures south of Hebron.
The incidents come amid continuing Israeli military raids across the occupied West Bank, where universities, cultural symbols and civilian infrastructure have increasingly come under attack.
Birzeit University Stormed
According to local sources, Israeli forces raided Birzeit University near Ramallah before dawn, assaulted the campus security guard and raided the Faculty of Physical Education building from its eastern entrance. The soldiers damaged infrastructure and university property during the operation before leaving the campus. Birzeit University later released photographs documenting the damage caused by the raid.
Despite the attack, the university announced that examinations would continue according to schedule. “Following up with the relevant authorities on what happened at dawn today, when Israeli forces raided the university campus and later withdrew, we confirm to our dear students that exams will be held at their scheduled times according to the approved timetables, with no changes,” the administration said in a statement.
Birzeit University has repeatedly been targeted by Israeli military raids, which have often included arrests of students, assaults on staff, searches of university facilities and the confiscation of student publications and materials.
Murals Destroyed
Hours earlier, Israeli forces raided the village of Al-Tabaqa, west of Dura, south of Hebron (Al Khalil), where they demolished murals honoring prominent Palestinian national and cultural figures.