Israeli forces marked Palestinian detainees with numbers on their foreheads and arms during a military raid in the occupied West Bank, with Tel Aviv confirming the incident.
The incident took place on Monday in Qabatiya, near Jenin, where Israeli forces rounded up dozens of Palestinian residents during a raid, Israeli media reported.
Ahmad al-Hathnawi, one of the detainees, was marked with the number 44 on his forehead.
He told local media that at least 50 people, including women, were detained during the raid and said Israeli forces took him and others away for interrogation.
“This is the first time they’ve put these numbers on me,” Hathnawi said.
“They are basically trying to send a message that if settlers come into the area, there will be no problems, and that the settlers are going to remain here for a long time," he said.
The Israeli forces confirmed that soldiers had marked detained Palestinians with numbers.
They said the raid involved the Duvdevan unit, which searched around 100 buildings in Qabatiya and detained several for questioning.
The practice drew strong condemnation from Knesset lawmaker Ahmad Tibi, who described it as “shocking and disgusting” and said it reflected the dehumanisation of Palestinians.
“An image that recalls dark periods and should shock every person,” he wrote on X.
The use of numbers on people's bodies carries particular historical significance, reminiscent of the identification numbers tattooed on prisoners by Nazi authorities in concentration and extermination camps during the Holocaust.
The practice has been reported previously during Israeli raids in the occupied West Bank.
Israeli forces in April marked Palestinian women from Jenin with numbers on their arms.
In 2024, Israeli forces also marked Palestinian detainees from Hebron with numbers on their foreheads.
Another illegal Israeli settlement of Ganim was set up last week near Qabatiya.
Israel has occupied the West Bank since 1967.
All Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank are illegal under international law, and their number has soared under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government.
