Story perspectives

Israeli Soldiers Raid Solomon’s Pools, Freeze Waqf Funding

7/19/2026

Summary

Story summary

Israeli soldiers raided Solomon’s Pools near Bethlehem on 10 July, firing teargas while children swam.
The three historic reservoirs hold 250,000 cubic metres of water and are a rare green sanctuary for local families.
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich declared the site “our land” and withheld tax revenues that fund the Palestinian Waqf’s upkeep.
Palestinian officials warned the funding cut threatens maintenance and could be used to rewrite the pools’ multicultural history.

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Story summary

Israeli soldiers raided Solomon’s Pools near Bethlehem on 10 July, firing teargas while children swam.
The three historic reservoirs hold 250,000 cubic metres of water and are a rare green sanctuary for local families.
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich declared the site “our land” and withheld tax revenues that fund the Palestinian Waqf’s upkeep.
Palestinian officials warned the funding cut threatens maintenance and could be used to rewrite the pools’ multicultural history.