Israeli army detains 7 in southern West Bank

HEBRON – 30/10/2012 (Ma’an) — Israeli forces detained seven Palestinians overnight in the southern West Bank, a military spokesman said.

The army spokesman told Ma’an that five Palestinians were detained in the Hebron district and two were arrested in Bethlehem.

 Witnesses in al-Fawwar refugee camp in Hebron said soldiers ransacked the home of Mohammad al-Najjar, a former prisoner, and severely assaulted him in front of his family before shackling and detaining him. Locals told Ma’an that al-Najjar is a member of Islamic Jihad.

Meanwhile in Hebron city, Israel troops raided the home of Gamila Hassan al-Shalaldeh and detained her and her 20-year-old son Ragheb al-Salaymeh early Tuesday morning.

In Beit Ummar, Israeli forces partially demolished the home of Wahid Abu Maria, 45, before arresting him, local committee spokesman Mohammad Awwad told Ma’an.

Awwad said residents threw rocks at the troops, who fired tear gas. He said soldiers imposed a curfew on the town since the early hours of Tuesday morning.

An Israeli military spokesman told Ma’an that Israeli soldiers and border police staged a joint operation in Beit Ummar “to prevent terror activities.”

He said one suspect barricaded himself in his home and that forces used “a number of means to pressure him” to come out. The man was eventually arrested and taken for questioning by security forces.

The army official could not immediately confirm that forces demolished the man’s home.

Meanwhile on Monday, Israeli forces detained three Palestinian teenagers, Palestinian officials said.

Odai Barqan 13, Abed Ghaith 13, and Mohammad al-Razem, 14, were accused of painting on a Jewish settler’s car. Palestinian officials told Ma’an that Barqan and Ghaith were later released but al-Razem remains in detention. (MA’AN/MINA)