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.
