Israeli occupation forces detain 17 Palestinians from West Bank
Israeli forces Monday overnight detained at least 17 Palestinians from various parts of the occupied West Bank, according to security sources and witnesses.
They confirmed that Israeli forces launched a massive house-to-house search campaign in Deir Nidham village, northwest of Ramallah, purportedly as part of an active pursuit of the perpetrators of a stone-throwing attack near the village.
Soldiers detained 20 villagers on suspicion of being involved in the attack before releasing 16 of them.
In Jericho district, the sources confirmed a predawn Israeli military raid in Aqabat Jabr refugee camp, south of Jericho city, resulting in the detention of another.
In Nablus district, Israeli military vehicles stormed the Old City of Nablus, where soldiers ransacked several houses and rounded up a Palestinian.
In Bethlehem district, Israeli troops barged their way into Jannatah town, south of the city, where they rounded up another.
In Jerusalem, witnesses confirmed that three Palestinians were rounded up by Israeli police from Bab al-Majlis area, on the northern side of Al-Aqsa Mosque compound.
In Hebron district, Israeli forces detained four others after ransacking their houses in Hebron city.
They also forced their way into al-Arroub refugee camp, north of the city, where they detained another.
They also conducted a similar raid in Surif town, northwest of the city, resulting in the detention of two others.
These raids, which take place also in areas under the full control of the Palestinian Authority, are conducted with no need for a search warrant, whenever and wherever the military chooses in keeping with its sweeping arbitrary powers.
Israeli forces frequently raid Palestinian houses almost on a daily basis across the West Bank on the pretext of searching for “wanted” Palestinians, triggering clashes with residents.
Under Israeli military law army commanders have full executive, legislative and judicial authority over 3 million Palestinians living in the West Bank. Palestinians have no say in how this authority is exercised.
