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"Israeli forces violently raided homes in the Qalqiliya district." Published by Maan News
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BETHLEHEM (Ma’an) -- Israeli forces detained at least 17 Palestinians, including two young children, during overnight raids across the occupied Palestinian territory, also raiding the home of a sick prisoner and threatening his family, locals said.

Bethlehem and Hebron districts

Israeli forces detained two 8-year-old children near the illegal Israeli settlement of Migdal Oz in the occupied West Bank district of Bethlehem on Wednesday evening, claiming that they were trying to carry out a stabbing attack.

An Israeli army spokesperson told Ma’an that two Palestinian children under the age of ten were detained near Migdal Oz, and that knives were found in their possession.

She added that the two children, who were reportedly from the village of Beit Fajjar, said during interrogations that they had been sent by someone to carry out a stabbing attack.

She did not have further information on whether the children were still detained as of Thursday evening, nor whether their parents had been contacted.

Meanwhile, local sources said that Israeli forces detained Sharaf Yaseen Abu Salem from the Aida refugee camp adjacent to the city of Bethlehem.
The army spokesperson told Ma’an that one person had been detained in Bethlehem, likely referring to Abu Salem.

In the southern West Bank district of Hebron, locals told Ma’an that Ayman Taha was detained in Hebron city, while Rami Muhammad Jaber al-Rujoub was detained in the village of Dura.

East Jerusalem, Ramallah and Jerusalem districts

In occupied East Jerusalem, locals reported that Israeli forces detained Diyaa Obeid from the neighborhood of al-Issawiya.

Meanwhile, Yassir Allan was reportedly detained in Shufat in the Jerusalem district of the West Bank.

In the central West Bank district of Ramallah, the army spokesperson said that one Palestinian was detained in the village of Kharbatha al-Misbah.

Qalqiliya district

Locals told Ma’an that Israeli forces raided the town of Azzun in the northwestern West Bank district of Qalqiliya, searching several houses and detaining five Palestinians, identified as Mahmoud Radwan, Omar Radwan, Mirsal Radwan, Tamer Radwan, and Muath Sweidan.

Locals added that Israeli soldiers stole money while searching the houses, and that clashes broke out between Palestinian youth and Israeli forces, without causing injuries.

An Israeli army spokesperson confirmed two detentions in Azzun to Ma’an.

Meanwhile, the Palestinian Committee of Prisoners’ Affairs said that Israeli forces violently raided the homes of former prisoners in the Qalqiliya district, identifying them as Mhanna Abu Haniyeh, Ahmad Abu Haniyyeh, and Ramadan Abu Haniyyeh.

Israeli forces also raided the home of sick prisoner Mutawwakil Radwan overnight, and threatened his access to medical care if his relatives kept advocating for his release.

Radwan, who is serving a 22-year-sentence, is currently at the al-Ramla Hospital in a fragile health condition as he suffers from cancerous tumors and heart disease.

Several events have been carried out in solidarity with Radwan in Qalqiliya recently demanding his release.

An Israeli intelligence officer informed Radwan’s relatives that the prisoner was being treated at one of the best Israeli hospitals, and warned them against any increase in popular support for Radwan.

Salfit, Nablus and Jenin districts

In the northern West Bank, locals reported that Israeli forces detained Anwar al-Sakhil in the city of Nablus, as well as Shadi Talal Zakarna in the Jenin-district village of Qabatiya.

The army spokesperson confirmed one detention in Qabatiya, but said that two Palestinians, one of whom was an alleged Hamas operative, were detained in Nablus.

She added that another Palestinian was detained in the Salfit-district village of Bani Hassan.

Israeli forces carry out detention raids in Palestinian communities on a near-nightly basis, with the UN documenting 178 such raids from Oct.4 to Oct. 17.

According to prisoners rights group Addameer, 7,000 Palestinians were detained by Israel as of August.

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