RAMALLAH, Wednesday, November 11, 2020 (WAFA) – Israeli forces Wednesday overnight detained 15 Palestinians, including a former minister, from various parts of the West Bank, according to the Palestine Prisoner’s Society (PPS).
It said in a statement that Israeli forces rounded up former Jerusalem Affairs Minister Khaled Abu Arafeh after he appeared before the Israeli intelligence in Ofer, a notorious detention facility, west of Ramallah.
Abu Arafeh, 59, served as the Minister of Jerusalem Affairs in March 2006 following Hamas sweeping victory in elections, and was detained in Israeli military sweep against the movement on 29 June 2006, and his Jerusalem residency permit was revoked on 30 June of the same year.
Meanwhile, Israeli police detained a 17-year-old teen from the vicinity of Bab al-Rahma prayer area inside Jerusalem’s flashpoint Al-Aqsa Mosque compound.
Police also summoned four Fatah officials for interrogation after storming their houses in Jerusalem.
Three of the four officials were identified as Director of the PPS Office in Jerusalem Nasser Qaws, Fatah Secretary-General in Jerusalem Shadi Mtour, Ahed al-Risheq and Raed Hijazi.
In Ramallah district, PPS confirmed that Israeli military vehicles raided Kobar town, northwest of Ramallah city, where soldiers searched many houses, turning them upside down and detained five Palestinians.
Soldiers stormed the house of Raed Zibar, a former prisoner, after detonating the front door of his property, in an attempt to detain him. When they failed to locate him, they detained his wife and four of his extended family members.
PPS confirmed that soldiers detained two other Palestinians, including one from the al-Bireh city neighborhood of Umm al-Sharayet.
In Hebron district, Israeli forces barged their way into al-Fawar refugee camp, south of the city, where they rounded up three Palestinians.
PPS confirmed a similar raid in Sa‘ir town, northeast of the city, resulting in the detention of another.
Another Palestinian, identified as a resident of al-Arroub refugee camp, was detained while inside Israel, and a former prisoner was too from Jenin district.
K.F.
