JENIN, Thursday, March 07, 2019 (WAFA) – Israeli forces detained 13 Palestinians, including five former prisoners and a woman, and caused a 40-day-old infant to suffocate from tear gas during overnight raids across various West Bank districts, said the Palestine Prisoner’s Society (PPS).
PPS confirmed that Israeli forces detained five Palestinians from the northern West Bank district of Jenin.
Local sources said that Israeli military raided Silat al-Harithiya town, northwest of Jenin, where soldiers detained three Palestinians, including a former prisoner.
Israeli forces also detained two other former prisoners during a predawn raid that triggered confrontations in Jenin refugee camp.
Soldiers opened fire towards local youths who protested the raid. No injuries were reported though.
In Jerusalem district, Israeli forces conducted a raid into Qatanna town, northwest of Jerusalem, and detained three Palestinians after ransacking their families’ houses.
PPS confirmed that a Palestinian was detained from the central West Bank district of Ramallah.
In the southern West Bank, PPS confirmed that two Palestinians, including a former prisoner, were rounded up from Bethlehem district.
Elaborating on the Bethlehem-district raids, security sources said that dozens of Israeli soldiers raided Dheisheh refugee camp, triggering confrontations with local youths.
During the ensuing confrontations, soldiers opened fire towards protestors and homes, causing a 40-day-old infant to suffocate from the effects of tear gas inhalation. He was rushed to a Bethlehem-based hospital for treatment.
Soldiers detained a Palestinian who was injured from Israeli gunfire during a previous raid after ransacking his family’s house in the refugee camp.
A similar military raid was also conducted in al-Doha town, west of Bethlehem, resulting in the detention of a former Palestinian prisoner.
In Hebron district, PPS confirmed that two Palestinians, including a woman, were detained from the southern West Bank district.
Elaborating on Hebron raids, security sources said that Israeli soldiers rounded up a Palestinian along with his daughter-in-law after thoroughly searching their houses in al-Samou town, south of Hebron city.
They also reported another raid into Dura town, southwest of Hebron, and Wadi al-Harya area, where soldiers thoroughly searched several civilian houses. No detentions were reported though.
Meanwhile, the Israel Prison Service released from detention Bilal Wajih Walad Ali, 34, from Sanour in the Jenin area, after serving 17 years in jail for resisting the occupation.
At the same time, another Palestinian prisoner from the town of Qabatia, in the Jenin district, Mohammad Abu al-Rub, completed today 16 years behind bars. He was sentenced to 24 years in prison for his resistance activity.
Marking International Women’s Day, the PPS said Israel is holding 50 Palestinian women behind bars for their resistance activity, including one held in administrative detention.
K.F./M.K.
