RAMALLAH, Tuesday, August 31, 2021 (WAFA) – Israeli forces Tuesday overnight detained at least 18 Palestinians from various parts of the West Bank, according to local and security sources.

Director of the Palestine Prisoner’s Society (PPS) Office in Tubas, Kamal Bani-Odeh, confirmed that Israeli forces rounded up a Palestinian after ransacking his family house in Tammun town, northeast of the northern West Bank city of Tubas.

The raid triggered confrontations during which the soldiers opened fire towards local teens. No injuries were reported though.

In Salfit district, a sizable military force barged its way into Deir Istiya town, west of the city, where they detained three others and brutally assaulted another.

While in the town, the soldiers ransacked the houses of the detainees’ families, turning them upside down.

In Ramallah district, the sources confirmed a similar military raid in al-Masayef neighborhood of Ramallah city, resulting in the detention of another.

The soldiers rounded up three others, including a 17-year-old teen, from other parts of the central West Bank district of Ramallah and al-Bireh.

In Jerusalem district, Israeli troops conducted separate raids in Abu Dis and 'Anata towns, east and northeast of the city respectively, where they detained two others.

Meanwhile, Israeli troops rounded up three others from the southern West Bank district of Bethlehem.

The detainees were identified as a resident of Beit Fajjar town, south of the city, a resident of Beit Sahour city in addition to a resident of the Bethlehem city neighborhood of As-Saff.

In Hebron district, Israeli military vehicles stormed Dura town, west of the city, where soldiers rounded up a prisoner’s wife.

They also rounded up four others, including two brothers, after breaking into and thoroughly searching their houses in al-Arroub refugee camp, north 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.