RAMALLAH, Monday, December 24, 2018 (WAFA) – Israeli forces Monday detained 16 Palestinians from several districts of the occupied West Bank, according to security sources.

Israeli forces detained three Palestinians after storming their families’ houses in al-Khader town, south of Bethlehem.

They also detained two others during a raid into the southern West Bank town of Tuqu, east of Bethlehem.

Meanwhile, Israeli forces raided al-Arroub refugee camp, north of Hebron city, detaining two Palestinians and ransacking several houses.

The raid came as soldiers sealed the entrances of Palestine Technical College, preventing students and educational staff’s entry to the college at the time of final exams.

In Jerusalem, two Palestinians were detained by Israeli forces from Hizma and al-Ram towns, northeast and north of Jerusalem respectively.

In Jerusalem’s Old City, Israeli military police physically assaulted and detained one of the Waqf-appointed guards of Al-Aqsa Mosque compound.

In Ramallah district, Israeli military vehicles raided al-Jalazon refugee camp, north of Ramallah, where soldiers detained three Palestinians.

Soldiers also detained two Palestinian students from the vicinity of a school in Beituniya town, west of Ramllah.

In the meantime, an Israeli military raid was conducted in the northern West Bank city of Qalqilia, resulting in the detention of a former prisoner.

Israeli forces frequently conduct large-scale overnight detention raids almost on a daily basis across the West Bank on the pretext of searching for “wanted” Palestinians, triggering clashes with residents.

Clashes often erupt between Palestinian youth who attempt to block soldiers’ passage, throwing stones and empty bottles and are met with live fire, rubber-coated steel bullets and tear gas canisters, often resulting in serious, sometimes fatal, injuries.

According to Palestinian figures, some 6,500 Palestinians continue to languish in Israeli detention facilities, including scores of women and hundreds of minors.

K.T./ K.F.