Israel razes Palestinian structures, arrests 8 in West Bank

By Awad Rajoub

RAMALLAH, Palestine (AA) – The Israeli army on Monday demolished commercial and agricultural structures and detained eight Palestinians in the occupied West Bank.

Israeli forces razed six Palestinian facilities in the town of Ya'bad, southeast of Jenin, the town’s mayor, Samer Abu Bakr, told Anadolu Agency.

He said the army cited lack of building permits for the demolitions.

Under the 1995 Oslo Accords between Israel and the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, was divided into three portions -- Area A, B, and C.

Israel prevents Palestinians from carrying out construction projects in parts of the West Bank designated as Area C, which falls under Israel’s administrative and security control.

Area C is currently home to 300,000 Palestinians, the vast majority of whom are Bedouins and herding communities who predominantly live in tents, caravans, and caves.

Meanwhile, Israeli forces rounded up eight in overnight raids in the West Bank on Monday.

Six Palestinians were arrested in the town of Beita, south of Nablus, according to a local journalist.

Two other Palestinians were detained by Israeli forces in al-Amari refugee camp in Ramallah, the official news agency Wafa reported.

Around 4,580 Palestinians are estimated to be held in Israeli prisons, including 43 women, 225 children, and 520 administrative detainees, according to Palestinian rights groups.

*Bassel Barakat contributed to this report from Ankara.