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BETHLEHEM (Ma'an) -- Israeli forces raided two homes in the center of Bethlehem on Wednesday, leading to clashes with local residents, witnesses said.

Locals told Ma'an that Israeli military forces and sniffer dogs raided the home of Ayyad Jamal al-Hrimi, who was not on the premises at the time.

Soldiers then searched the home of Muhammad Shahadeh.

The raids led to confrontations with local residents, during which time soldiers fired tear gas and sound bombs, locals said.

Al-Hrimi's home is located some 200 meters from the Church of the Nativity in the center of Bethlehem.

An Israeli army spokeswoman said that "during routine activity in Bethlehem, Palestinians hurled rocks at IDF soldiers damaging their vehicle."

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Army Invades Bethlehem, Clashes Reported

by Saed Bannoura - IMEMC & Agencies

Arrests Were Reported In Ramallah, Nablus, Jerusalem And Jericho

The Radio Bethlehem 2000 reported that Israeli soldiers invaded, on Wednesday at dawn, Wadi Maaly area in the city, and clashed with dozens of local youths who hurled stones and empty bottles at them. Several residents were kidnapped in occupied East Jerusalem, and other areas in the West Bank.

Local sources said that the soldiers invaded the home of Ayyad Jamal Al-Hreimy, approximately at 2:30 at dawn, terrifying the residents while violently searching it causing property damage.

The sources added that the army also broke into the home of Mohammad Shihada, who was previously killed by the army, and used military dogs while searching it.

Dozens of local youths hurled stones and empty bottles at the soldiers who fired rounds of live ammunition, gas bombs, and concussion grenades.

In related news, soldiers invaded on Wednesday at dawn the Balata refugee camp, east of the northern West Bank city of Nablus, broke into several homes and kidnapped two residents. The two were identified as Yazan Khalil Aassy, 21, and Amir Abdul-Ghani Sawalma, 20.

On Wednesday morning, the army kidnapped one resident at the Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem, and four residents in Silwan town and in the Old City. Three of the kidnaped residents were identified as Ated and Imad Al-Abbasy, and Ahmad Al-Haleesy.

On Tuesday at night, soldiers invaded the camp and kidnapped two residents identified as Sabri Thouqan and Asam Abu Ghosh.

On Tuesday evening, soldiers kidnapped one resident identified as Islam Ahmad Zayed, 21, after stopping a car he was riding at a sudden roadblock that was installed near Jericho , and took him to an unknown destination. Zayed is from Betunia town, near the central West Bank city of Ramallah.

The latest events are part of the ongoing escalation and violations carried out by Israeli soldiers against the Palestinians and their property in the occupied West Bank.

The latest events are part of the ongoing escalation and violations carried out by Israeli soldiers against the Palestinians and their property in the occupied West Bank.

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