A bus transporting Palestinian Haj pilgrims was rammed by an Israeli military vehicle in the occupied West Bank on Sunday, resulting in several injuries and widespread condemnation. The incident occurred near the Al-Hamra military checkpoint in the Jordan Valley region, an area frequently targeted by Israeli forces.
According to eyewitnesses and local media reports, the military vehicle crashed into the civilian bus without provocation. The bus was en route to Jordan, carrying elderly Palestinians traveling for the annual pilgrimage to Mecca. Multiple passengers sustained injuries, and several were transferred to nearby hospitals for treatment.
While Israeli authorities have not officially commented on the incident, Palestinian officials described it as a “deliberate act of aggression” against peaceful pilgrims. The Palestinian Ministry of Religious Affairs stated that the pilgrims were “clearly marked and en route for religious purposes,” and accused the Israeli military of attempting to terrorize civilians.
Human rights groups condemned the attack, labeling it part of a wider pattern of Israeli aggression targeting civilians in occupied territories. They have called for an independent investigation and international accountability.
The incident adds to the rising tensions in the West Bank amid ongoing military operations and restrictions affecting daily life for Palestinians.
