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by Chris Carlson - 1 of International Middle East Media Center Editorial Group

Army declares Howwara a closed area

The Israeli army, on Friday, abducted three Palestinians and detained ten others during a raid campaign carried out in the village of Beit Awa, west of Hebron.

According to local sources, Israeli forces arrested Mohammed Nayef Masalmeh, 28, Odai Juma Masalmeh, 20, and Ahmed Mohammed Masalmeh, 16, the Palestinian News Network (PNN) has reported.

The sources added that the Israeli soldiers fired tear gas canisters toward the houses of the detainees before storming them.

Israeli troops also searched several houses in the village, including the houses of Mohammed Hussain Masalmeh and Ahmed Jadou Masalmeh.

10 Palestinians were detained and interrogated by an official from the Israeli Intelligence Agency before they were released.

Attacks by soldiers and settlers alike, in the West Bank and Gaza. have been in a state of escalation over recent days.

Just yesterday, Israeli forces stormed the village of al-Karmil, east of Yatta to the south of Hebron, and took over the rooftops of three Palestinian-owned homes and turned them into military outposts, according to a local activist.

The Popular Committee Coordinator in Yatta, Rateb al-Jabour, told WAFA that forces raided three houses in the area, located near the illegal Israeli settlements of Susiya, Ma’on, and Havat Ma’on, and took over their rooftops and turned them into military outposts.

Forces also set up checkpoints at the entrances leading to the villages east of Yatta.

Meanwhile, large numbers of settlers stormed the village of al-Karmil and raised anti-Arabs banners while chanting Talmudic and racist slogans.

Also on Thursday, Israeli forces abducted four Palestinians from across the West Bank, according to security sources.

Sources told WAFA that forces arrested two Palestinians, 19 and 21, from the town of Beit Owwa, west of Hebron, after raiding several houses in the area.

Forces also kidnapped a 24-year-old Palestinian from the village of Beit Rima, northwest of Ramallah.

In the Jenin area, a 22-year-old Palestinian was taken by the army after raided his house and tampered with its contents.

Meanwhile, forces raided the town of Yabod, southwest of Jenin, and photographed several houses, street alleys, and neighborhoods in the village.

Furthermore, the Israeli army declared Howwara and Beta towns, in southern Nablus, a closed military zone, after a settler’s car was exposed to firebombs.

Hebrew resources claimed that Palestinians had thrown Molotov cocktails at a settlers' car, which caused a rollover crash as drivers tried to respond to the fire source.

Palestinian sources reported that a large force of Israeli soldiers arrived in the town and launched a sweep campaign amidst the firing of stun grenades. IOF closed the shops and announced Hawara and Beta towns closed areas.

Dozens of settlers rioted rabidly in the settlement of Yitzhar, which is located near the accident site, Al Ray reports.

Many Palestinian cars were vandalized by Israeli settlers in Howwara town, as they threw stones at Palestinian cars and smashed their windows.