Israeli forces detain 23 Palestinians from West Bank

Jerusalem24 – Israeli forces Wednesday overnight detained 23 Palestinians, including 12 former prisoners, from various parts of the West Bank, according to the Palestinian Prisoner’s Society (PPS).

It confirmed in a press statement that Israeli forces rounded up 11 Palestinians, including six former prisoners, from the northern West Bank district of Jenin.

Sources elaborated that Israeli troops detained four residents, including two former prisoners, in a raid that triggered confrontations in Jaba‘ town, southwest of Jenin city.

Soldiers also re-arrested four former prisoners after ransacking their houses in Qabatiya town, south of the city.

They also conducted separate two raids in Anza and al-Hashemiya villages, southwest and west of Jenin, resulting in the detention of two other Palestinians.

This came as undercover Israeli forces, known as Mista’arvim, sneaked their way into the vegetable market in Jenin city, where they kidnapped a resident of Jenin refugee camp.

Meanwhile, PPS said that eight Palestinians were detained from Ramallah and al-Bireh district.

It elaborated that a sizable Israeli military force barged its way into Jalazone refugee camp, north of the city, where soldiers rounded up seven Palestinians, including four former prisoners and an attorney, and smashed the main doors of many houses.

One of the detainees was severely beaten before being handcuffed and escorted to one of the military vehicles near his house.

Soldiers also detained another Palestinian after breaking into and searching his house in al-Bieh city neighborhood of Um al-Sharayet.

During ensuing confrontations, soldiers opened fire towards scores of local youngsters who protested the raids and beaten several others.

In the southern West Bank, PPS confirmed a military raid in the city of Bethlehem, resulting in the detention of two Palestinians.

In the meantime, soldiers re-arrested a former prisoner after breaking into his house in Hebron city.

In Tubas district, PPS said that Israeli troops carried out a raid in Tammun town, south of the city, where they re-arrested a former prisoner.

Israeli forces frequently raid Palestinian houses almost on a daily basis across the West Bank on the pretext of searching for “wanted” Palestinians, triggering clashes with residents.

These raids, which take place also in areas under the full control of the Palestinian Authority, are conducted with no need for a search warrant, whenever and wherever the military chooses in keeping with its sweeping arbitrary powers.

Under Israeli military law army commanders have full executive, legislative and judicial authority over 3 million Palestinians living in the West Bank. Palestinians have no say in how this authority is exercised.