BETHLEHEM, Wednesday, September 16, 2020 (WAFA) – Israeli occupation forces Wednesday overnight detained 12 Palestinians, including a mayor, from various parts of the West Bank, said the Palestine Prisoner’s Society (PPS).

PPS confirmed in a press statement that Israeli forces rounded up five Palestinians after ransacking their houses in Bethlehem district.

One of the five detainees was identified as a resident of Umm Salamuna village, southwest of Bethlehem, two others as residents of Marah Rabah village, south of Bethlehem city, and two others as residents of Beit Sahour city.

In the northern West Bank, PPS confirmed an Israeli military raid in Nablus, resulting in the detention of another.

It said that a similar military raid was conducted in Silat Ad-Dhar town, southwest of Jenin, where soldiers rounded up the town mayor, As‘ad Amin Hantouli and a former prisoner.

Meanwhile, PPS confirmed that two others were detained from Ramallah district, including one from al-Am‘ari refugee camp, and another from Jericho.

Also in Jericho district, Israeli military vehicles stormed Ein Sultan, west of the city, where soldiers rounded up one and physically assaulted another.

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.

K.F.