JERUSALEM, June 1, 2016 (WAFA) – Israeli forces Wednesday overnight detained at least five Palestinians and briefly held 40 others in large-scale detention raids across the Jerusalem neighborhoods of Jabal al-Zeitoun, also known as al-Tour, and al-Suwwaneh, said a local activist.

Head of the Local Detainees’ Committee Amjad Abu Asab said troops and intelliegence officers conducted an large-scale overnight raids, initially detaining 45 Palestinians, including minors and a high school student.

He added that troops decided afterwards to release about 40 Palestinians, while they held other five in custody as a prelude to bringing them to military courts.

The five detainees were identified as Muhammad Abu Ghannam, 16, Abdullah Abu Ghannam, 16, Kefah Abul-Hawa, 20, Amir al-Hadra, 20, and Daoud Abul-Hawa, 20.

He considered the detention raids as being intended to spread panic and intimidate Palestinians in Jerusalem ahead of Israel’s celebration of what it calls as Jerusalem Reunification Day.

Mohammad Mahmoud, an attorney representing Prisoner Support and Human Rights Association (Addameer), said most of the detainees were taken to a police station purportedly for hurling stones at Israeli vehicles.

Thousands of right-wing Jewish Israelis prepare to march through Jerusalem’s Old City to celebrate what they call the reunification of Jerusalem, which refers to Israel’s occupation of East Jerusalem during 1967 war, known to Palestinians as al-Naksa.

“Jerusalem Day” would be observed on Sunday June 5 just a day before the Islamic fasting month of Ramadan starts.

K.F.