Israeli forces arrest 50 more Palestinians in occupied West Bank

By Qais Omar Darwesh Omar and Mahmut Geldi

RAMALLAH, Palestine (AA) – As the bombardment of Gaza continues, Israeli forces have also arrested more than 50 Palestinians in various parts of the occupied West Bank.

According to a statement from the Palestinian Prisoners Society on Tuesday, Israeli forces continued their arrest campaigns throughout the West Bank.

Israeli forces arrested more than 50 Palestinians in various parts of East Jerusalem and the West Bank throughout the night.

The statement added that the number of Palestinians detained in the West Bank since the start of the current conflict is more than 1,265.

The conflict in Gaza, which has been under Israeli bombardment and a blockade since Oct. 7, began when the Palestinian group Hamas initiated Operation Al-Aqsa Flood, a multi-pronged surprise attack that included a barrage of rocket launches and infiltrations into Israel by land, sea, and air.

It said the incursion was in retaliation for the storming of Al-Aqsa Mosque and growing violence by Israeli settlers against Palestinians.

The Israeli military then launched a relentless air campaign against Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip.

The Palestinian death toll from ongoing Israeli airstrikes on the Gaza Strip has climbed to 5,087, the Health Ministry in the blockaded enclave said. “The fatalities include 2,055 children, 1,119 women and 217 elders,” the ministry said, adding 15,273 people were also injured.

More than 1,400 Israelis have been killed in Hamas attacks since Oct. 7, according to Israeli authorities.

*Writing by Gozde Bayar