Israeli army has detained 4,400 Palestinians in West Bank since Oct. 7: NGOs

By Qais Abu Samra

RAMALLAH, Palestine (AA) - The Israeli army has detained over 4,400 Palestinians in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem since Oct. 7, Palestinian prisoners affairs groups said on Thursday.

In a joint statement, some non-governmental organizations (NGOs), including the Palestinian Prisoners Society and the official Commission for Prisoners' Affairs, said the number does not include those arrested in the Gaza Strip during the same period.

It also said hundreds of Palestinians were detained in Jenin city in the past few days but most of them were released after interrogation.

The Israeli army has launched a military operation in the Jenin refugee camp in the northern West Bank, leaving at least 12 Palestinians dead since Tuesday, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry.

Tensions have been running high across the West Bank amid an Israeli military offensive on the Gaza Strip following a cross-border attack by Hamas on Oct. 7.

At least 288 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces and settlers in the West Bank since Oct. 7, in addition to more than 3,100 others injured, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry.

*Writing by Ahmed Asmar in Ankara