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JERUSALEM (Ma'an) -- Israeli forces detained a senior leader of the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine and several other Palestinians in overnight raids, sources said Sunday.

The DFLP told Ma'an that Israeli soldiers raided Abu Dis east of Jerusalem and broke into the house of Hasan Issa Shehadah, 37.

Before arresting Shehadah and taking him to a nearby military base, soldiers ransacked his home and confiscated his computers and telephones, the faction said.

During the raid, clashes broke out between Israeli soldiers and local Palestinian youths. Soldiers fired tear gas and rubber-coated steel bullets at protesters.

Meanwhile, Israeli forces raided the village of al-Asakira east of Bethlehem after Palestinians in the area hurled fire bombs at settler vehicles nearby, locals said.

Several military vehicles entered the village and soldiers searched the area near al-Asakira school.

Israeli troops ransacked houses in the area during the raid, locals added.

A military spokesman told Ma'an the army arrested six Palestinians overnight -- four in Burqa near Nablus, one southwest of Nablus, and one in Bethlehem.

Regarding the reported arrest in Abu Dis, the army spokesman referred Ma'an to the Israeli Border Police, but spokespeople for the Border Police did not answer calls seeking comment.

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