HEBRON, July 3, 2014 (WAFA) – Israeli forces Thursday arrested around 20 Palestinians, including minors, during predawn raids across the West Bank and Jerusalem, according to local and security sources.

In Hebron area, Israeli army arrested seven people, including three children between the ages of 8 and 10 under the pretext of throwing stones at the army. The children were later released upon intervention from the Palestinian Liaison Office. Three other Palestinians were arrested in the nearby village of Beit Ummar, while another was arrested at ‘Atzion’ checkpoint after being beaten up by soldiers in the head with the butts of their rifles.

Meanwhile in Nablus, army forces arrested five Palestinians, including four ex-detainees, in the city and the nearby al-Ein refugee camp and the villages of Qaryout and Madama.

Army also stormed the village of Awarta and raided a house, yet no arrests were reported.

In the meantime, army stormed the city of Jenin and the nearby refugee camp, where they arrested a local resident, 29, after raiding his home and sabotaging its furniture. Soldiers raided several homes in the camp and turned them into military outposts for hours. The provocative raid by the army led to confrontations with local residents in Jenin, leaving cases of suffocation as army fired tear gas canisters, stun grenades and live bullets.

In Qalqilya, three Palestinians, including a member of the Palestinian Legislative Council, were reported arrested by the Israeli forces which stormed the city and the nearby village of Kafr Qaddum. Soldiers raided many other homes in the nearby village of Azzoun, tampering with their contents, yet no further arrests were reported.

Meanwhile, Israeli forces stormed Tulkarm refugee camp and arrested a local resident after raiding his home in the late night hours.

In the meantime, Israeli forces arrested a Palestinian youngster after storming his home in the village of Hazma in Jerusalem Governorate.

M.N./T.R.