Israeli forces conducted raids early Sunday across multiple cities and towns in the northern and southern West Bank, arresting at least 20 Palestinians.
This brings the total number of detainees to over 9,550 since the escalated Israeli incursions began alongside the war on Gaza on October 7, 2023.
According to local sources cited by the Palestinian news agency WAFA, Israeli forces stormed Silwad, executing extensive searches and raids on numerous homes.
These operations involved the destruction of home contents, detaining residents outside, conducting field interrogations, physically assaulting some individuals, and smashing car windows.
In southeastern Bethlehem, Israeli forces raided the town of Tuqu’. WAFA reported that the forces searched a resident’s home, delivered a summons to meet Israeli intelligence, and conducted searches around the municipality without making any arrests.
In the northern West Bank, Israeli forces entered Wadi al-Far’a south of Tubas early Sunday, following their exit from the Hamra military checkpoint. Foot patrols carried out house searches, resulting in the arrest of three individuals.
Clashes also erupted on Saturday evening in the town of Qusra, south of Nablus, where Israeli soldiers fired live ammunition, stun grenades, and tear gas, although no injuries were reported.
The Palestinian Prisoners’ Affairs Commission (governmental) and the Palestinian Prisoners Club (non-governmental) stated in a joint release that at least 15 Palestinians were detained on Saturday in the West Bank, including former prisoners.
This raised the total number of Palestinian detainees to over 9,550 since October 7, including those arrested early Sunday.
Saturday’s arrests were distributed across the governorates of Qalqilya (north), Ramallah and Jerusalem (central), Hebron (south), and Jericho (east). These arrests were accompanied by assaults, threats against the detainees and their families, and extensive destruction of homes.
Amid the devastating war on Gaza, the Israeli army and settlers have intensified their assaults in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. According to the Palestinian Ministry of Health, these attacks have resulted in 570 deaths and around 5,350 injuries in addition to the detainees.
The US-backed Israeli war on Gaza has led to over 125,000 Palestinian casualties, the majority of whom are children and women, and more than 10,000 missing persons amid widespread destruction and famine that has claimed the lives of dozens of children.
