Israeli soldiers made a dramatic entrance into the Jerusalem home of a recently freed Hamas member on Saturday evening, turning a family celebration into chaos. The raid, which resulted in the detention of the man’s brother and the roughing up of his father, also saw a New York Times reporter caught in the crossfire.

The gathering was meant to celebrate the early release of Ashraf Zughayer, a Hamas member imprisoned since 2002 for transporting terrorists involved in deadly attacks, including a suicide bombing that killed six civilians. Zughayer, 46, was among 200 prisoners released as part of a deal tied to Israeli hostages in Gaza.

The military, led by a colonel, stormed the family’s building with weapons drawn. Witnesses say the soldiers assaulted several people, including Zughayer’s elderly father and the Times reporter, who was conducting interviews at the time. Journalists were expelled, and the soldiers remained for about an hour before leaving with Zughayer’s brother in custody.

Israeli authorities have a long history of cracking down on celebrations for released Palestinian militants, arguing that such events glorify violence and provoke unrest. Critics, however, say these actions only deepen Palestinian resentment and fuel ongoing conflict.

This raid comes amid heightened tensions following the Gaza cease-fire, with Israeli officials wary of bolstering Hamas’s popularity. Many of the freed Palestinians were sent to Egypt instead of being allowed to return home, a move seen as an effort to minimize their influence.

The Israeli military defended the raid, claiming they had intelligence of gunfire and incitement to terrorism in the area. They stated that weapons were raised only at armed individuals and that Zughayer’s brother was detained for displaying a Hamas flag.

The incident underscores the fragile and volatile nature of the current truce, with both sides seemingly on edge as the region grapples with the aftermath of recent violence.