BETHLEHEM, August 13, 2016 (WAFA) – Israeli forces Saturday stormed and wreaked havoc into the Zakat committee’s premises during an overnight raid into the southern West Bank city of Bethlehem, said a Zakat Committee official.

Chairman of the Bethlehem Zakat Committee Muhammad Rezeq said a large Israeli military force stormed the zakat committee’s premises in the central Bethlehem neighborhood of al-Karkafeh, destroying doors and ransacking it.

Troops reportedly seized six computers, orphans’ files and cheque books.

Israeli forces occasionally raided Zakat committee offices across the West Bank.

In late December 2015, forces raided the Zakat Committee office in Bethlehem, seizing two safes and all documents.

The Zakat committees across the West Bank are administered and approved by Ministry of Waqf and Religious Affairs.

The zakat committee collects and utilizes zakat, an Islamic tax, for the sponsorship of orphans and providing emergency assistance for poor families.

K.F.