Since 2002, Israeli occupation forces have raided Birzeit University’s campus 28 times. The dates and available details of these raids are documented below.

5 October 2026

In the early hours of dawn, 5 October 2026, on the eve of the new academic year, Israeli occupation forces stormed the campus of Birzeit University, raided the Faculty of Science building and the physics laboratories, and damaged university property. Israeli military also demolished and confiscated the memorial honoring the university’s martyred students, an assault on the university’s collective memory and on the dignity of those whose sacrifices have become part of its history.

26 September 2026

Israeli occupation forces stormed the university campus, intimidating and terrorizing students as they sat for their final examinations of the summer semester.

6 January 2026

Israeli occupation forces raided the University in broad daylight while lectures were in session and students were inside classrooms. This constituted a full-fledged crime targeting Palestinian education and students’ right to learn, as well as a flagrant violation of the sanctity of universities and academic institutions.

The forces smashed the University’s main gate and fired live ammunition, stun grenades, and toxic tear gas intensively and directly at students and members of the University community. This brutal military assault resulted in 41 student injuries, including nine caused by live ammunition.

9 December 2025

On the morning of Tuesday, 9 December 2025, Israeli occupation forces raided Birzeit University’s campus in a large-scale assault that caused extensive damage to University buildings and facilities.

22 September 2025

Israeli occupation forces raided the University, stormed the offices of the student movement, and confiscated materials belonging to student groups.

26 November 2024

On the morning of Tuesday, 26 November 2024, Israeli occupation forces raided the University campus and arrested two students, Amro Kaid and Hassan Saleh. The forces also assaulted University guards, smashed the western gate, and vandalised the Student Council offices.

3 September 2024

At dawn on Tuesday, 3 September 2024, Israeli occupation forces raided Birzeit University’s campus and stormed the rooms allocated to the Student Council and student groups. The forces confiscated flags and publications belonging to student blocs and caused extensive damage to University property.

22 February 2024

An Israeli undercover unit, known as the musta‘ribeen, stormed the University’s western entrance and arrested the President of the Student Council and another Council member.

8 November 2023

Israeli occupation forces raided the University campus, specifically targeting the Student Council offices. They vandalised property belonging to student groups and confiscated flags, documents, and publications associated with student organisations at the University.

24 September 2023

A military force comprising more than 50 vehicles surrounded the University and stormed its campus. The forces assaulted University guards, confiscated their mobile phones, and detained them inside the guardroom.

Another military unit subsequently raided the Student Council offices, blew open their doors, and ransacked their contents. The raid concluded with the arrest of eight students from the Student Council, including its elected President and several members of the Student Council’s General Conference.

10 January 2022

An undercover unit of the Israeli occupation forces fired live ammunition at a group of students near the University’s eastern entrance. One student was injured, and five others were arrested.

14 December 2021

Israeli occupation forces raided the University campus, assaulted University guards, lowered the Palestinian flag, vandalised University property, and confiscated flags and materials belonging to student blocs.

26 March 2019

Undercover Israeli forces, supported by occupation soldiers, stormed the University campus and abducted three Birzeit University students in the morning. The operation constituted a grave violation of international norms and conventions that prohibit attacks on academic institutions.

7 March 2018

The President of Birzeit University’s Student Council, Omar al-Kiswani, was arrested on campus at approximately 4:00 p.m. while sitting in the courtyard opposite the Student Council offices.

A group of individuals posing as journalists approached him and requested an interview. After conducting a staged interview, they revealed themselves to be members of an undercover Israeli unit. They assaulted him at gunpoint in front of University students before forcibly restraining and handcuffing him.

During the arrest, members of the undercover unit subjected al-Kiswani to severe physical assault. He was punched in the face and beaten by five individuals for approximately two to three minutes. Electric shock batons were used on various parts of his body, and he was repeatedly kicked in the back, face, and elsewhere.

The unit then withdrew from the area outside the Student Council offices, located at the centre of the campus, under the protection of Israeli occupation soldiers. The soldiers entered through the University’s western gate in civilian vehicles to secure the unit’s withdrawal.

Further Documented Raids

Additional raids were documented on the following dates:

• 14 December 2017
• 3 February 2017
• 30 January 2017
• 11 January 2016
• 5 December 2014
• 19 June 2014
• 19 January 2012
• 9 September 2011
• 14 March 2005
• 12 December 2004
• 10 December 2002
• 16 October 2002
• 3 September 2002
• 27 July 2002