Israel detains 55 Palestinians in occupied West Bank

By Qais Omar Darwesh Omar and Safiye Karabacak

RAMALLAH (AA) – The Israeli forces detained on Thursday 55 Palestinians in the West Bank, and East Jerusalem, according to official sources.

“Israeli forces carried out detention operations in various regions of occupied East Jerusalem and the West Bank,” Emani Serahine, an official with the Palestinian Prisoners Association, told Anadolu.

Serahine reported that "55 Palestinians were detained by Israeli forces during these operations."

The Israeli authorities have so far made no response to the reports.

In a dramatic escalation of Mideast tensions, Israeli forces have launched a sustained and forceful military campaign against the Gaza Strip, a response to a military offensive by the Palestinian group Hamas in Israeli territories.

The conflict began when Hamas initiated Operation Al-Aqsa Flood against Israel, a multi-pronged surprise attack including a barrage of rocket launches and infiltrations into Israel via land, sea, and air, which Hamas said was in retaliation for the storming of the Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem and Israeli settlers’ growing violence against Palestinians.

In response to Hamas' actions, the Israeli military launched Operation Swords of Iron against Hamas targets within the Gaza Strip.

Israel's response has extended into cutting water and electricity supplies to Gaza, further worsening the living conditions in an area that has reeled under a crippling siege since 2007.

* Writing by Ikram Kouachi​​​​​​​