RAMALLAH, Monday, October 18, 2021 (WAFA) – Israeli forces Monday overnight detained ten Palestinians, including a prominent writer, from various parts of the West Bank, according to local and security sources.
They said that Israeli forces rounded up 70-year-old Ahmad Qatamesh, a political scientist known for his writings and lectures who was designed by Amnesty International as a prisoner of conscience, after raiding his house in al-Bireh city.
Israeli soldiers rounded up another Palestinian after storming his house in Turmus Ayya town, north of the city of Ramallah.
The soldiers re-arrested a former prisoner after breaking into and ransacking his house in the Ramallah city neighborhood of al-Tireh.
In the southern West Bank, the sources confirmed a raid in Beit Fajjar town, south of Bethlehem, resulting in the detention of a teen.
In the northern West Bank, Israeli military vehicles stormed Qabatiya town, south of Jenin, where the soldiers detained two others.
Another was rounded up as he attempted to cross the military checkpoint of Za‘atara, south of Nablus. The detainee was identified as a resident of Silat al-Harithiya village, northwest of Jenin.
In Jerusalem, police rounded up three others after breaking into and searching their houses in Silwan neighborhood.
On Sunday evening, Israeli police rounded up two minors from Bir Ayoub area in the East Jerusalem neighborhood of Silwan.
They also detained another Palestinian from the vicinity of Damascus Gate, also known as Bab al-Amoud.
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.
