BIRZEIT: Israeli forces shot and wounded five people on Tuesday at Birzeit University in the occupied West Bank, according to the Palestinian Red Crescent, while the Israeli military said its forces responded to a violent confrontation.
Military vehicles entered the university campus late in the morning. Witnesses and the university’s president, Talal Shahwan, confirmed the presence of soldiers on foot and several vehicles departing after the incident. Videos posted on social media also captured the intervention.
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The Israeli military said its forces acted to disperse an “anticipated gathering in support of terror” based on intelligence indications. They reported that a violent confrontation erupted when rocks were hurled from rooftops toward the troops. The military added that it used riot dispersal methods and targeted fire against the main instigators.
BREAKING: Israeli forces storm Birzeit University in the occupied West Bank. At least two students were injured after live rounds were fired. Al Jazeera’s Nida Ibrahim reports. pic.twitter.com/JbNATk7sjG
— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) January 6, 2026
The Palestinian Red Crescent reported that 11 people were injured in total: five by live ammunition, four from gas inhalation, and two due to falls. The university stated that the wounded were all students, who had thrown stones at the troops. Ambulances were seen transporting the injured to local medical facilities.
University President Shahwan condemned the military’s actions, stating, “Unfortunately, the university has been a recurring target, but this time the brutality crossed all limits.” Israeli forces have previously entered the campus on multiple occasions.
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The incident highlights ongoing tensions in the West Bank, particularly around educational institutions, which have frequently become flashpoints in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.