Israel detains 39 Palestinians in West Bank raids

By Anees Bargouthi

RAMALLAH, Palestine (AA) – Israeli forces have rounded up dozens of Palestinians, including a lawmaker, in overnight raids in Israel-occupied West Bank, according to a local Palestinian NGO.

Seventeen Palestinians were detained by Israeli forces in East Jerusalem’s Shufat refugee camp and Beit Hanina neighborhood after raiding their homes, the Palestinian Prisoners Society said in a statement on Wednesday.

Seven more Palestinians, including Hamas MP Mohamed al-Natsheh, were arrested in the West Bank city of Hebron, the NGO said.

Israeli forces also detained 15 Palestinians in overnight raids in several West Bank cities, it added.

The Israeli army frequently carries out sweeping arrest campaigns in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem that ostensibly target Palestinians "wanted" by the Israeli occupation authorities.

Currently, over 7,000 Palestinians are languishing in Israeli prisons, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Prisoners’ Affairs.