RAMALLAH, Wednesday, June 23, 2021(WAFA) – Israeli forces Wednesday overnight detained at least 23 Palestinians mainly from the West Bank districts of Ramallah and Hebron, according to local sources.

Mayor of Ni‘lin, Imad Khawaja, told WAFA that a sizable Israeli force conducted a house-to-house search campaign in Ni‘lin town, west of Ramallah city, ransacking some 18 houses and rounding up 15 Palestinians before releasing five of them as surveillance drones hovered over the town.

Some 40 Israeli military vehicles stormed the town at 1:00 AM, where over 100 soldiers broke into and thoroughly searched the houses, interrogated dozens of young men, and destroyed and set fire to several vehicles.

The raid, which lasted until 5:30 AM, triggered violent confrontations, during which the soldiers opened fire towards local teens who attempted to block their withdrawal. No injuries were reported though.

In Hebron district, Israeli troops leading attack dogs forced their way into Beit Ummar town, north of the city, smashing the front doors of over 10 houses, breaking into and ransacking the houses, as confirmed by media activist, Mohammad Awad.

 By the time the raid was over, nine Palestinians were detained, including three former prisoners and four teens; one aged 16 and three aged 17.

The soldiers detained a former prisoner along with his son after seizing their vehicle in Wadi al-Hariya neighborhood of Hebron.

In the northern West Bank, Israeli special forces abducted two Palestinians from Al-Nasera Street in Jenin city and seized their vehicle.

One of the detainees was identified as a former prisoner from Jenin refugee camp.

On Tuesday evening, a Palestinian from the East Jerusalem neighborhood of Silwan was detained after appearing before the Israeli intelligence at Al-Maskobiya detention and interrogation center.

The detainee was identified as the 20-year-old Loai Gheith, whose father, Adnan, serves as the Jerusalem Governor.

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.