Israel arrests 16 Palestinians in West Bank raids

By Qais Abu Samra

RAMALLAH, Palestine; 14 Aug 2018; AA: Israeli forces have rounded up 16 Palestinians in raids carried out across the occupied West Bank, according to local residents on Tuesday.

An Israeli force raided a number of homes in the West Bank city of Hebron and arrested two women, including the wife of Hamas lawmaker Mohamed Maher Badr, local residents said.

Four Palestinians were also arrested by Israeli forces in northern Hebron late Monday, according to the official Wafa news agency.

Clashes broke out between angry Palestinians and Israeli forces during the raid, leaving four Palestinians injured, Wafa reported.

Israeli forces also staged raids in the cities of Tulkarm, Nablus, Ramallah and Bethlehem, arresting ten Palestinians, the agency said.

There was no comment from the Israeli army on the report.

The Israeli army frequently conducts sweeping arrest campaigns across the occupied West Bank on the pretext of searching for “wanted” Palestinians.

According to Palestinian figures, some 6,500 Palestinians are currently languishing in Israeli prisons, including scores of women, roughly 350 minors, and at least six members of the Palestinian Legislative Council.