Description

NABLUS (Ma’an) – Israeli forces reportedly detained four young Palestinians at the Huwwara checkpoint south of Nablus Saturday evening, claiming the youths were carrying knives, according to Palestinian sources.

Palestinian security sources told Ma'an in Nablus that Israeli soldiers claimed that the youths were in possession of 25-centimeter-long knives found in their car after it was searched by Israeli soldiers.

The sources identified the detainees as Nazzal Hani Bani Fadil, 27, Asif Mahmoud Adili, 25, Yousif Hani Bani Fadil, 19, and Muhammad Ahmad Halabi, 21.

An Israeli army spokesperson confirmed the detentions, saying that the four were carrying knives.

Israeli forces have detained a number of Palestinians for being in possession of knives in recent months following a spate of attacks by Palestinians that have left some 32 Israelis dead since October.

In the same period, some 216 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces and settlers. While Israel alleges many of those were attempting to attack Israelis when they were shot, Palestinians and rights groups have disputed Israel's version of events in a number of cases.

In fewer than two days earlier this month, three Palestinians were killed after allegedly carrying out attacks which killed two Israelis, and a fourth Palestinian died during clashes, marking an uptick in violence after a few months of relative reprieve from a wave of violence and unrest which has swept across the occupied Palestinian territory and Israel since the fall of last year.