Israel rounds up 37 Palestinians in W. Bank raids: NGO

By Anees Bargouhti

RAMALLAH, Palestine (AA) – The Israeli army has detained 37 Palestinians in overnight raids carried out in the Israeli-occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem, a Palestinian NGO said Tuesday.

"Israeli troops detained 28 Palestinians after raiding their homes in the West Bank cities of Ramallah, Bethlehem, Jenin and Al-Khalil [Hebron]," the Palestinian Prisoners Society said in a statement.

"Another nine Palestinians were arrested when Israeli forces raided their homes in the village of Issawiya in East Jerusalem," the NGO added.

The Israeli army frequently carries out sweeping arrest campaigns in the occupied territories that ostensibly target Palestinians who are "wanted" by the Israeli occupation authorities.

Over 7,000 Palestinians are currently languishing in prisons throughout the Jewish state, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Prisoners’ Affairs.