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BETHLEHEM (Ma'an) -- Israeli forces detained four Palestinian minors during a raid into the town of al-Khader in southern Bethlehem late Sunday, locals said, while an Israeli army spokeswoman reported a fifth arrest north of Bethlehem.

Dozens of Israeli soldiers were seen on al-Shahid Street in al-Khader's old town shortly after midnight, before they stormed several homes and detained Jihad Omar Abd al-Salam Salah, 15, and Muhammad Asaad Said Sbeih, 16.

In the town's al-Balou area, Israeli forces raided the home of Muhammad Dawood Ahmad Salah and detained his sons Dawood, 17, and Omar, 16.

An Israeli army spokeswoman confirmed the four arrests, alleging that they were detained for "involvement in criminal activity and riots."

When asked which riots they had been involved in, she said she could not specify.

She said a fifth Palestinian had been detained north of Bethlehem overnight, although she was unable to provide any details.

Israeli forces routinely detain Palestinians throughout the West Bank, often on the pretext of perceived security threat, and Addameer estimates that 40 percent of the Palestinian male population has been arrested at some point.

More than 6,000 Palestinian prisoners are currently being held in Israeli jails.