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HEBRON (Ma'an) -- Israeli forces detained 15 Palestinians overnight Tuesday during raids on the central and southern West Bank, the army said.

An Israeli military spokeswoman said 10 people were detained in the Hebron district and five from villages around Ramallah.

Four people were detained in Beit Ummar, near Hebron, she said.

Beit Ummar popular committee spokesman Muhammad Awad told Ma'an that Israeli forces raided the village in 10 military jeeps at dawn and detained two former prisoners and two teenagers.

He identified the detainees as Muhammad Awad, 15, Muhannad Allami, 14, Yousif Awad, 21, and Muhammad Mahmoud Awad.

Yousif Awad was released from an Israeli prison 40 days ago after serving a 3-year sentence. Muhammad Mahmoud Awad has previously spent three years in Israeli detention, the official said.

The spokesman added that Israeli troops have detained 54 people in Beit Ummar so far this year, including 35 minors. Beit Ummar holds protests against Israel's confiscation of village land every Friday.

Meanwhile in Beit Awwa, west of Hebron, Israeli forces ransacked several homes before detaining Diyaa Masalmah, 18, Yaser Masalmah, 17, and Bahaa Masalmah, 17, locals said.

An Israeli military spokeswoman said two people were detained from the village.

Troops also raided the city of Hebron and ransacked homes in the Ras al-Jurah and al-Salam neighborhoods. Salih Juweilis, 29, was among those detained, witnesses said.

The army official said soldiers detained four people in the city.

On Tuesday, Israeli soldiers detained Ali Haymouni as he entered the Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron's Old City and Tayseer al-Khoudour, 22, from Beit Naim near Hebron, locals said.

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RAMALLAH, April 4 2012, (WAFA) – Israeli forces Wednesday arrested 11 Palestinians in the West Bank, according to various sources.

Six Palestinians were arrested from several areas in the Hebron region after raiding their homes, according to security sources.

Forces also arrested five Palestinians from the Ramallah area.

M.S.

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