By Qais Abu Samra
RAMALLAH, Palestine (AA) – The Israeli army rounded up 25 more Palestinians in fresh raids across the occupied West Bank late Sunday and early Monday, according to prisoners' rights groups.
Most of the arrests took place in the cities of Nablus, Jenin, Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Hebron and Qalqilya, the Commission of Detainees' Affairs and the Palestinian Prisoners Society said in a joint statement.
With the latest figures, the total number of arrests since Oct. 7, 2023 rose to 8,425, according to the statement.
Tensions have been high across the occupied West Bank since Israel launched a deadly military offensive against the Gaza Strip, which killed more than 34,000 people following a Hamas attack on Oct. 7, 2023.
At least 485 Palestinians have since been killed and over 4,800 others injured by Israeli army fire in the occupied West Bank.
Israel stands accused of genocide at the International Court of Justice, which in an interim ruling in January 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 in Istanbul