WEST BANK, March 14, 2011 (WAFA) - Israel escalated attacks and arrests on Palestinians in various area of the West Bank on Monday including Nablus, Ramallah, Hebron, Bethlehem and Qalqiliya, following the killing of five settlers in the Itamar settlement constructed on land belonging to Awarta town east of Nablus.

Israeli army arrested 12 Palestinians Monday from Awarta after asking all residents between 15 - 40 years of age to come to one of the town’s schools, after an imposed curfew on Awarta for the last three days, according to head of the town council Qais Awwad.

Soldiers are assaulting anyone who does not conform to their orders, said Awwad.

The situation in Awarta is very difficult; families lack basic foodstuffs like milk and bread and Israeli soldiers have banned patients from going to hospitals to receive treatment, according to Sulaiman Qawareeq, member of Awarta town council.

He added that soldiers are detaining several families, most of whom comprise of children, women and the elderly.

In Hebron, Israeli soldiers arrested two residents on Monday and led them to an unknown location, according to security sources.

Armed settlers had closed roads leading to the Hebron area and thrown stones at vehicles. Soldiers opened fire at a Palestinian car carrying passengers north of Hebron and overturned it, its passengers scrambling away in fear.

Tens of armed settlers besieged a resident’s house in Baq’a area, east of Hebron, threw stones at it and caused damage.

Settlers from Beit El, a settlement north of Jerusalem, set fire to two vehicles in Doora Qare, a village east of Ramallah. Another group of settlers raided Jensafut, a village east of Qalqiliya, also setting fire to two vehicles.

Settlers around Bethlehem area escalated their attacks against residents, setting up caravans early Monday in agricultural land in the village of Jaba’a, west of Bethlehem, aiming to seize the land.

R.S./F.J.