Israeli occupation forces stormed the Professional Unions Complex in the town of Beit Hanina, north of occupied Jerusalem, on Saturday morning, coinciding with the launch of the Palestinian Bar Association elections. The raid marks a new escalation targeting Palestinian civil institutions in the city.
Local sources reported that several Israeli police officers entered the building unexpectedly and began checking the IDs of everyone inside — including lawyers and members of the electoral committees — without providing an official explanation, causing confusion and frustration among election participants.
The Israeli interference did not stop there. The police summoned Awad Al-Salaymeh, a member of Fatah's Jerusalem regional committee, for questioning due to his presence at the polling station — a move widely seen as a clear political targeting of Palestinian organizational structures.
The raid coincided with a large-scale military operation carried out by Israeli forces in Qalandiya refugee camp, north of Jerusalem. Observers believe the simultaneous security maneuvers reflect a broader Israeli strategy to disrupt Palestinian activities in the city, especially those tied to unions and civil institutions.
This intrusion is viewed as a deliberate attempt to hinder the electoral process and undermine the democratic atmosphere of the union elections, aligning with a policy aimed at weakening Palestinian institutions in Jerusalem and minimizing the civil and political presence of Palestinians in the occupied city.
At the time of this report, Israeli police forces remain stationed around the unions complex, highlighting the continued tension and escalation of violations against official Palestinian events in the occupied capital.
