RAMALLAH, Wednesday, February 03, 2021 (WAFA) – Israeli forces Wednesday overnight detained 25 Palestinians, including an attorney and three minors, from various parts of the West Bank, according to local and security sources.
They confirmed that Israeli forces rounded up five Palestinians, including two minors, aged 16 and 17, after ransacking their families’ houses in Tuqu‘ town, east of the southern West Bank city of Bethlehem.
In Hebron district, Israeli forces barged their way into al-Fawwar refugee camp, southwest of Hebron, where they detained two others.
They also detained two others in a similar raid in Beit Ummar town, north of Hebron city.
Meanwhile, Israeli military vehicles stormed Hizma town, northeast of Jerusalem city, where soldiers rounded up five Palestinians, including a 16-year-old teen, after breaking into and searching their families’ houses, turning them upside down.
As the soldiers broke into the family house of one of the detainees, they used pepper spray against three of the family members, causing them to suffocate.
In Salfit district, a military raid was confirmed in Kafr Ad-Dik town, west of Salfit city, where soldiers rounded up an attorney and confiscated his cell phone after storming his house.
In Nablus district, Israeli soldiers detained a Palestinian from a coffee shop in Asira Ash-Shamaliya town, north of the city.
They also detained four others after breaking into and thoroughly searching their families’ houses in Sebastia town, northwest of the city.
In Tulkarm district, local sources confirmed an military raid in Shweika neigorhood, north of the city, resulting in the detention of three Palestinians.
Israeli soldiers detained another after storming his house in the city.
In Jenin district, Director of the Palestine Prisoner’s Society (PPS) Office, Muntaser Sammur, confirmed that Israeli troops detained a resident of Qabatiya town, south of the city.
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.
