Israel detains 20 more Palestinians in fresh West Bank raids

By Qais Abu Samra

RAMALLAH, Palestine (AA) – The Israeli army rounded up 20 more Palestinians in military raids carried out across the occupied West Bank on Thursday, according to prisoners' affairs groups.

Most of the arrests took place in the cities of Bethlehem, Tulkarm, Nablus, Jenin, and Jerusalem, the Commission of Detainees' Affairs and the Palestinian Prisoner Society said in a joint statement.

"The arrests were marked by acts of sabotage and destruction of citizens’ homes, in addition to severe beatings against detainees and their families, and confiscation of money,” the statement said.

There was no comment from the Israeli army on the report.

According to prisoners’ affairs groups, at least 7,040 Palestinians have been detained by Israeli forces in the West Bank since Oct. 7.

Tensions have been running high across the West Bank since Israel launched a deadly military offensive against the Gaza Strip following an Oct. 7 Hamas attack.

At least 394 Palestinians have since been killed and 4,400 others injured by Israeli army fire in the occupied territory, according to the Health Ministry.

Israel stands accused of genocide at the International Court of Justice over its deadly onslaught on the Gaza Strip, which has left more than 28,500 people dead.

In an interim ruling in January, the Hague-based court ordered Tel Aviv to stop genocidal acts and take measures to guarantee that humanitarian assistance is provided to civilians in Gaza.

*Writing by Mohammad Sio