RAMALLAH, Tuesday, June 16, 2020 (WAFA) – A large Israeli army force raided early this morning the city of Ramallah, the de facto capital of the Palestinian Authority and seat of its president and government, and an archeological site in the north of the occupied West Bank, according to sources.

Witnesses said the forces raided several neighborhoods in Ramallah while youths pelted them with stones and shot fire crackers at the army vehicles. The soldiers responded by opening gun fire and shooting teargas canisters in their direction. There were no reports of injuries.

The soldiers also raided Amari refugee camp in the city and detained a 20-year-old youth after raiding and ransacking his family home.

This is the first raid of Ramallah since the Palestinian Authority has ended security coordination with Israel on May 19.

Meanwhile, Israeli forces raided the archeological town of Sebastia in the north of the West Bank, said Mohammad Azem, the mayor of Sebastia, and ordered the archeological site closed to visitors without giving any reason for its action.

He said that the town has repeatedly been attacked and raided by both Israeli settlers and forces in a clear attempt to take control of the area.

K.T./M.K.