Israeli Army Marks Palestinians with Numbers During West Bank Raid

Israeli soldiers marked dozens of Palestinians with numbers written in black marker on their skin during a military operation in Qabatiyah, in the northern West Bank. The numbers were written on foreheads, arms, and hands. The Israeli army stated the practice was intended to identify individuals during interrogations, though commanders later described the action as a wrong choice and a lack of common sense. During the seven hour siege, soldiers raided at least one hundred homes and arrested two Palestinians accused of preparing attacks.

This incident follows a similar event in April where women in the Jenin refugee camp were marked with numbers on their hands. Arab Israeli lawmaker Ahmad Tibi described the method as disgusting. The Times of Israel noted that marking skin with numbers has historically been a taboo in Israel due to the tattoos used by Nazis on prisoners in concentration camps. Haaretz reported that the military also distributed flyers warning the local population not to contact terrorist groups.

Outlets with a center right lean reported the event alongside broader political context, including the government's plans to rebuild evacuated outposts and Minister Itamar Ben Gvir's announcement regarding a facility for executing Palestinian convicts. The left leaning coverage focused on the historical implications of the marking, questioning whether the focus on historical precedents obscures the current reality.