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by IMEMC & Agencies

Friday at dawn January 18, Israeli soldiers invaded Beit Fajjar town, south of Bethlehem, and kidnapped twelve Palestinians after breaking into their homes and searching them. Soldiers also invaded towns near Jenin, and a town in occupied East Jerusalem.

Several armored Israeli military jeeps invaded Beit Fajjar after surrounding it, while dozens of soldiers were deployed in its streets and on its main entrances.

The soldiers then broke into and violently searched dozens of homes causing excessive damage and kidnapped the twelve residents.

The kidnapped residents have been identified as Hasan Deeriyya, 17, Ahmad Majed Thawabta, 27, Islam Mahmoud Thawabta, 26, Mahmoud Ali Thawabta, 24, Mohammad Ahmad Thawabta, 28, Islam Nafeth Thawabta, 27, Ahmad Anwar Taqatqa, 25, Ahmad Salem Taqatqa, 24, Shakeeb Abed Taqatqa, 24, Rafat Ali Taqatqa, 29, Eyad Abed Taqatqa, 30, and Ali Hussein Rashed, 19.

In related news, the army invaded Sielet Al-Thaher town, near the northern West Bank city of Jenin, and handed six residents military warrants ordering them to head to the Salem military and security base for interrogation.

The soldiers also invaded Al-Arqa village, near Jenin, and fired several concussion grenades, gas bombs, and several flares.

On Thursday evening, the army invaded Sur Baher town, south of occupied East Jerusalem, and surrounded the Al-Omary mosque.

The army, and a number of security officers, stopped dozens of residents leaving the mosque, and inspected their ID cards while interrogating them.

Soldiers also handed 15 residents military warrants ordering them to head to a nearby military base for interrogation.

The invasion led to clashes between the soldiers and the residents, and the army fired several concussion grenades and gas bombs at the residents.

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BETHLEHEM (Ma'an) -- Israeli forces detained nine Palestinians from the Bethlehem-area town of Beit Fajjar at dawn on Friday, locals said.

More than 30 Israeli military vehicles entered the village in the early morning hours, and raided several homes, they told Ma'an.

Those detained were named as: Islam Mahmud Thawabteh, 26, Ahmad Majed Thawabteh, 29, Mahmud Ahmad Mirshed, 26, Ahmad Anwar Thawabteh, 27, Ali Hussein Derayeh, 19, Hussein Hashim Derayeh, 18, Shakid Mohamad Takatka, 27, Mahmud Ali Thawabteh, 30, and Ahmad Salim Takatka, 28.

An Israeli military spokeswoman said two Palestinians were detained overnight -- in Hizme and al-Janiya near Ramallah -- and was checking reports of detentions near Bethlehem.

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