WEST BANK, May 20, 2015 (WAFA) – The Israeli authorities on Wednesday arrested at least nine Palestinians during predawn raids in the West Bank districts of Bethlehem and Hebron, according to local and security sources.

Coordinator of the Anti-Settlement Committee in the village, Ahmad Salah, said an Israeli army force stormed the village during predawn hours, and arrested five local residents after raiding and searching their homes. They were identified as Khaled Issa, 22, Mohammad Yousef Atwan, 16, and Ameer Zayah, 15, Karam Sbeih, 15, and Marwan Sbeih, 15.

Salah said the army distributed a statement in the village that threatened to apprehend any child suspected with throwing stones or other objects at settlers’ vehicles.

Meanwhile, the Israeli army broke into the town of Beit Awwa, south of Hebron, and arrested Sanad Masalmeh, 20, after raiding and searching his home.

The army also broke into nearby Yatta, where they arrested Rasmi Adra, 39, after raiding his house using sniffer dogs. Another resident, Nedal al-Adra, 25, was also arrested in the town after the army stormed and sabotaged its furniture.

Another army unit stormed the nearby town of Idna, where they arrested Ra’fat Abu Juhesheh, 23, a local activist.

The Israeli authorities have arrested 1545 Palestinians since the beginning of 2015 year, reported Abdel Nasser Ferwana the director of the Bureau of Statistics in the commission of detainees' affairs.

The rate of arrest since January till April is 9.6% which exceeds the rate documented for the same period last year, said Ferwana.

A total of 258 Palestinian under the age of 18 are among the arrested in addition to 77 Palestinians women, the statement reported.

M.N/M.H