Israeli army withdraws from Ramallah after large-scale raid

Vehicles of Israeli forces are seen during a military operation in the West Bank city of Ramallah, Aug 26, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

The Israeli army withdrew from the central West Bank city of Ramallah on Tuesday following a large-scale raid on Tuesday morning, according to Palestinian sources.

Palestinian security forces said that heavy Israeli forces stormed central Ramallah, raiding several shops and money exchange companies.

Local sources reported that several Palestinians were arrested during raids on money exchange shops in Ramallah and al-Bireh.

According to the Palestinian Red Crescent Society, 20 Palestinians were injured during the raid, including a 12-year-old boy who was shot in the back and two pregnant women who suffered suffocation.

Video footage circulated on social networks shows Israeli military vehicles storming central Ramallah and firing live bullets and tear gas canisters, causing fear and panic among residents, particularly in a commercial area housing official Palestinian institutions.

The sources confirmed that Israeli forces later withdrew from the city center.

In a statement on Tuesday, the Israel Defense Forces said that its forces and Israel Border Police forces conducted a targeted raid on a currency exchange business that transfers funds to Hamas in the center of Ramallah on Tuesday morning.

"During the activity, five wanted individuals suspected of terrorist activity were apprehended and transferred for further processing by the security forces. In addition, hundreds of thousands of shekels that were identified as terror funds were confiscated," it added.

Ramallah and al-Bireh Governor Laila Ghanem condemned the military operation in a brief statement, saying that Israel "will not succeed in breaking the will of the Palestinian people through raids and arrests."