ZIONIST FORCES STEP UP CRACKDOWN IN PALESTINIAN CITIES

Israel steps up crackdown in Palestinian cities. (Photo: www.washingtonpost.com) — **Israel steps up crackdown in Palestinian cities.** (Photo: www.washingtonpost.com)

Occupied West Bank, 20 Sha’ban 1435/18 June 2014 (MINA) – The Israeli occupation military has stepped up its raids and abductions of Palestinian figures in the occupied West Bank following the alleged disappearance of three teenage settlers, Press TV reports.

In an interview with Press TV, Murad Jadallah from Palestinian Prisoner Support and Human Rights Association (Addameer), said Israeli occupation troops had damaged private properties of the Palestinian people during their raids in the occupied West Bank in the search for the three Israeli teens.

“In some cases, Israeli occupation forces take over Palestinian homes and buildings and turn them into military bases after expelling their owners,” said Jadallah, adding, “The rights of the Palestinian people have been violated during these raids and arrests,” Press TV quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) as reporting Wednesday.

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The Israeli occupation regime’s recent detention campaign is still underway in several areas in the West Bank. According to the latest figures by Palestinian rights groups, more than 200 Palestinians have been arrested over the past three days.

Jadallah went on to say that the “latest campaign of arrest has targeted Palestinian figures and leaders of [resistance movements] Hamas and Islamic Jihad,” and the Israeli troops may start detaining activists from other Palestinian factions soon.

Tel Aviv has accused Hamas of kidnapping the Israeli teens that the regime says went missing in the West Bank last week.

However, Hamas rejects the claim, saying Tel Aviv seeks to sabotage the recent reconciliation accord reached between the movement and Fatah, which led to the formation of the Palestinian national unity government earlier this month.

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In a statement issued on Monday, Hamas strongly condemned Israel’s recent abductions in the occupied Palestinian territories, saying the “cowardly” move is a “flagrant violation of all international conventions.”

Hamas leaders Hassan Yousef, Wasfi Qabaha, Khaled Abu Arafeh and Mohammed Totah have been among those recently abducted by Israel. (T/E01/IR)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)