RAMALLAH, Thursday, January 27, 2022 (WAFA) – Israeli forces Thursday overnight detained 26 Palestinians, mostly from the occupied city of Jerusalem, according to local and security sources.

They said that Israeli police conducted a large-scale campaign across the occupied city of Jerusalem, rounding up 24 youths, mostly former prisoner.

14 of the 24 detainees were identified as residents of the Jerusalem neighborhood of al-Tur. They were rounded up purportedly for hurling stones at a police vehicle two days after municipal staff demolished the house of Karameh family in the neighborhood, according to Amjad Abu Asab, head of Jerusalemite detainees and prisoners families committee.

One of the detainees was identified as a resident of al-Issawiya neighborhood. He was detained after being shot by a rubber-coated steel bullet at the neighborhood entrance.

This came as police prevented non-residents of the old city from entering it and chased people who were having fun with snow, particularly at Damascus Gate, opening concussion grenades and rubber-coated steel bullets at them. No injuries were reported though.

Meanwhile, Israeli troops re-arrested two former prisoners and ransacked their houses in Qabatiya town, south of Jenin, turning the homes upside down.

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.