BETHLEHEM, Thursday, October 29, 2020 (WAFA) – Israeli forces dawn Thursday detained at least nine Palestinians from various parts of the West Bank, according to security sources and the Palestine Prisoner’s Society.
The sources confirmed that Israeli forces detained a Palestinian as a means to force his brother to turn himself to Israeli intelligence in a raid in Bethlehem city.
The detainee was identified as Mohammad Khatib, whose brother, Daoud, died of a heart attack in Israeli custody on September 2, 2020.
Israeli forces barged their way into Marah Rabah village, south of Bethlehem, where they rounded up two others.
A similar Israeli military raid was confirmed in Beit Sahour city, west of Bethlehem, resulting in the detention of another.
In Hebron district, the sources reported a military raid in Dura town, south of Hebron city, resulting in the re-arrest of a former prisoner.
In Jerusalem city, Israeli police rounded up a Palestinian after ransacking his house in Wadi al-Joz neighborhood.
Meanwhile, Director of PPS Office in Jenin Muntaser Sammur confirmed that Israeli forces rounded up three others after storming their families’ houses in the city.
In Ramallah district, Israeli forces stormed the Palestinian Military Medical Services (MMS) Ambulance and Emergency Department in al-Bireh city, where they informed the MMS personnel the need to evacuate the place.
Soldiers stormed the main headquarters of the Palestine Cellular Communications Company (Jawwal) and a store, seizing the recordings of their surveillance cameras.
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.
