RAMALLAH, Wednesday, April 07, 2021 (WAFA) – Israeli forces Wednesday overnight detained at least 20 Palestinians from various parts of the occupied West Bank, according to the Palestine Prisoner’s Society (PPS) and local sources.
They confirmed that Israeli forces rounded up seven Palestinians after storming their houses in Ras Karkar village, northwest of Ramallah city.
Israeli soldiers also detained another after ransacking his house in Deir Jarir village, northeast of the city. The detainee was identified as the director-general of Friends of Down Syndrome Association, Haidar Makhu.
In Hebron district, Coordinator of the Anti-Wall and Settlement Committees, Rateb Jabour, said that Israeli forces barged their way into Beit Ummar town, north of the city, where they detained four Palestinians, including two former prisoners.
The soldiers also conducted a similar raid in Yatta city, south of Hebron city, where they rounded up Fatah activist, Jihad Abu ‘Eram, and ransacked the houses of at least eight other activists, turning them upside down.
In Jerusalem district, Israeli police detained a Palestinian after searching his house in the Ras Khamis area of Shufat refugee camp, northeast of the city.
In the northern West Bank, local sources confirmed that a former prisoner was re-arrested during an Israeli military raid in Tulkarm city.
Meanwhile, Director of the PPS Office, Muntaser Samour, confirmed an Israeli military raid in al-Yamun town, west of Jenin city, resulting in the detention of a father along his son.
Israeli military vehicles also stormed Jalbun village, east of the city, where soldiers detained another.
In addition, Director of the PPS Office in Tubas city, Kamal Bani-Odeh, said that a resident of the city was detained as he attempted to cross an Israeli military checkpoint near Tayaseer town, east of the city.
This came as Israeli troops assaulted and detained a resident of ‘Anin village, west of the city, as he was on his way back from his workplace inside Israel to the village.
The soldiers carried out a dawn raid into the village, where they broke into and thoroughly searched the detainee’s house.
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.
