NABLUS – Israeli forces have defended their complete destruction and seizure of equipment from the “Al-Manahel” printing press in Nablus, in the northern West Bank, with written statements on its wall saying, “Everything that goes through Hamas ends in ruin. This press supports Hamas, and Hamas equals ISIS.” The printing press, which was raided few days ago, has been linked to Hamas by the occupying army, equating the organization with terrorism.
In late December, the Israeli military launched a campaign against several exchange shops across the West Bank, confiscating – according to their statement – 10 million shekels (with the dollar equivalent to 3.7 shekels), alleging that the funds finance and support “terrorism,” in reference to Palestinian factions, especially the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas).
In response, the Palestinian Prisoners’ Club accused the occupation authorities of stealing and confiscating the money and properties of prisoners during raids on their homes and stated that such actions have escalated since the war on the Gaza Strip.
The club insisted that these acts are part of exploitative colonial settlement policies, aiming to “increase the cost of Palestinian struggle, impose collective retribution, and target Palestinian existence.”
The owners of the institutions deny the occupation’s claims outright, affirming their compliance with the oversight of the Palestinian Authority and adherence to its various procedures and granted licenses, a statement that the Palestinian Monetary Authority has also confirmed.
Revenge and Retribution as Motives
According to Mu’ath Zoukan, the owner of the Al-Manahel printing press, the raid on his business confirms “the lies and false accusations of the occupation and their deliberate incitement.” He mentioned the destruction was targeted at the machines and reflected a desire for “revenge.”
Zoukan revealed that the occupation forces intended the destruction to terminate their livelihood based on unfounded accusations. During the raid on the press, which coincided with an intrusion into his home that lasted for hours, the forces wreaked havoc, destroying contents and searching for money they claimed was there, and confiscated his personal vehicle.
The occupation had never previously warned the printing press of any violations or military procedures, nor had they directed any accusations against those running it. Even though it was raided and destroyed last November, no equipment was seized as it was this time.
Zoukan’s father was arrested by the occupation in early November and put in administrative detention without concrete charges. Zoukan himself was summoned in 2020 to an investigation camp south of Nablus, where an officer confirmed that they knew he did not produce publications for any Palestinian factions, particularly Hamas, and that his work was strictly commercial.
The occupation has not closed down the printing press, unlike what it did with dozens of other printing shops across the West Bank after October 7th.
Despite all this, the occupation attacked the printing press with a motive of “revenge and retaliation,” breaking appreciation shields, models representing the map of Palestine or the Dome of the Rock, and writing on the walls in Hebrew, “The people of Israel live,” along with the Star of David symbol.
“Does Not Deter Resistance”
Bilal Shoubaki, an analyst and researcher on resistance movements, believes the primary aim for Israel behind these actions is not “to dry up terrorism” as claimed, but instead to impose sanctions on those supporting certain factions.
Shoubaki thinks a portion of Israel’s tools to dissuade Palestinians from participating in combative activities involves targeting their economic interests. Secondly, the occupation might indeed have security information regarding facilitation of certain factions’ operations through these enterprises or companies, hence targeting them to prevent their support for those factions.
Shoubaki favors the first option, noting that Israel’s pursuit, confiscation, and occasional closure campaigns are reactive and dramatic rather than systematic and sequenced, as demonstrated by the response following October 7th. “If Israel truly had security information that these institutions posed a danger, it would have shut them down immediately,” he adds.
Shoubaki argues that Israel’s actions against the financial or military infrastructure of Palestinian factions do not achieve security, emphasizing that security is tied to the occupation’s behavior and the pressure exerted on Palestinians, denying them their simplest economic and political rights.
Actions that Breed Explosion
Israeli media reported on Wednesday that a Likud party Knesset member proposed a bill to impose “sanctions” on banks and exchange offices in the West Bank and Gaza transferring payments from the Palestinian Authority to freed prisoners and martyrs’ families.
Khaled Barghouti, an analyst on Israeli affairs, says that Israel deals with Palestinians comprehensively from a security perspective, which relies on the idea that their existence is a security threat and burden.
He points out the problem with the Israeli mentality that thinks in terms of “cauterizing consciousness,” a tactic which has proven ineffective. Each attempt results in more extreme reactions towards Israel. Hence, the occupation’s confiscation of funds and properties is seen as “vindictive” by Barghouti, such actions are likely to accumulate anger and hasten an explosion – an outcome even Israel anticipates, though not knowing when or how.
In conclusion, with Israeli actions perpetuating a cycle of violence and retaliation without addressing core issues, tensions in the region are poised for further escalation.
