19 PALESTINIANS KIDNAPPED, 5 INJURED IN IOF RAIDS IN AL-KHALIL

Al-Khalil, 24 Rabi’ul Awwal 1436/15 January 2015 (MINA) – At least 19 Palestinian civilians were kidnapped by the Israeli occupation forces (IOF) during raids launched across the southern West Bank province of al-Khalil Wednesday and Tuesday.

Sources based in Beit Ummar village, north of al-Khalil, said 18 Palestinians were rounded up by the IOF at dawn Wednesday while others were heavily beaten up moments after they were forced out of their homes and left shivering in cold air.

Media spokesman for the anti-settlement committee in Beit Ummar, Mohamed Awad, said a large-scale military campaign targeted the town, resulting in a round of assaults on the natives’ family homes and the abduction of 18 Palestinians, The Palestinian Information Center (PIC) quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) as reporting on Thursday.

At least three minors have been detected among the newly-captured citizens, mostly ranging between the ages of 16 and 28.

Five Palestinian citizens, including a girl, sustained rubber bullet injuries and others were heavily assaulted in the violent confrontations that burst out during the campaign.

Earlier on Tuesday, the IOF kidnapped a Palestinian youth following raids launched across al-Khalil.

The IOF troops stormed the city via a drove of military jeeps and scoured Issa village moments before they broke into al-Mascoubiya church, in al-Jalda, locals told the PIC.

The Israeli occupation patrols further raided al-Karmel village, east of Yatta town, where Palestinians’ IDs were provocatively inspected at a checkpoint randomly pitched by the IOF north of the village.

The incursions culminated in the abduction of the Palestinian youth Saleh Ismail al-Badareem at the hands of the IOF, shortly after they scoured his family home and summoned the youth, along with his father and brother Mohamed, for interrogation.

Over 12 Palestinian young men have reportedly been captured by the IOF throughout in a mass-abduction campaign launched across al-Samou’ town over the past few days.

The IOF further broke into the Fawar refugee camp, south of al-Khalil city, using more than 20 army jeeps, allegedly after an explosion was heard near the Israeli illegal Hagai settlement.

Four Palestinian young men were heavily beaten up by the Israeli army troops deployed at the main entrance of the camp. (T/P011/P3)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)