Israeli army detains 24 Palestinians in overnight raids

By Anees Barghouthi

RAMALLAH, Palestine (AA) - The Israeli army has detained 24 Palestinians, including nine members of the same family, in overnight raids carried out in the Israeli-occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem, a Palestinian NGO announced Thursday.

"Twenty-one Palestinians were arrested after Israeli forces raided their homes in the West Bank cities of Ramallah, Hebron, Qalqilya and Salfit," the Palestinian Prisoners Society said in a statement.

According to the NGO, Israeli troops raided the Al-Amari refugee camp near Ramallah, where they arrested nine members of the same family.

"Israeli forces also detained three Palestinians in the East Jerusalem village of Al-Sheikh," the NGO added.

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

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