ISRAELI FORCES DETAIN 7 PALESTINIANS FROM HEBRON, BETHLEHEM

Hebron, 20 Ramadhan 1436/7 Juli 2015 (MINA) – Seven Palestinians were arrested by Israeli forces in detention raids across the Hebron and Bethlehem districts in the southern West Bank overnight Sunday, local sources and the Israeli army said.

Khalil Khalid al-Balasi, 22, and Abdul Majid al-Titi, 25, were detained in al-Arrub refugee camp north of Hebron, after Israeli forces stormed their homes, locals told Ma’an.

In Idhna west of Hebron, Israeli forces ransacked a number of houses belonging to the Tumizi family and detained Jaber Deeb al-Tumizi. Ma’an News Agency reports as quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA).

Israeli troops also raided Beit Ummar village north of Hebron, where they broke into the home of Fathi Fakhri Ikhlayil.

An Israeli special forces officer reportedly beat his son Yousuf, 21, before arresting him and taking him to an unknown place.

Israeli forces also detained Tamer Suliman Ali abu Ayyash, 22, at al-Karama border crossing while en route from Jordan to Beit Ummar.

An Israeli army spokeswoman could only confirm one arrest in southern Hebron.

She said that two more Palestinians were arrested near Bethlehem.

She said that they had been arrested for “illegal activities” and “violence” towards Israeli soldiers or civilians.

Israeli forces routinely detain Palestinians throughout the West Bank and East Jerusalem, often on the pretext of perceived security threats, and Addameer estimates that 40 percent of the Palestinian male population has been arrested at some point.

Nearly 6,000 Palestinian prisoners are currently being held in Israeli jails. (T/P010/R03)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)