Israel arrests 16 in overnight West Bank raids

Source : Al Akhbar English

Israeli soldiers arrested at least 16 Palestinians, including a high ranking Hamas official, in overnight raids across the West Bank Tuesday, local media reported.

Ma’an news agency, citing unnamed Hamas sources, said soldiers arrested Islamist Rafat Jamil Nassif after breaking into his home in the village of Tulkarm.

Four others from the village were arrested, including three university students, and the son of a local Imam.

In Nablus, Israeli forces detained four students from an-Najah University, locals said. Soldiers also detained two others from nearby villages.

Four people were arrested in Qalandiya refugee camp in Ramallah, including two ex-prisoners.

Soldiers arrested two others in Hebron.

But an Israeli army spokeswoman said just 13 people were detained overnight, including four in Nablus, five in Tulkarm, three in Bethlehem and one in Hebron.

The latest arrests follow a sweep of West Bank raids targeting Hamas- affiliated officials in the West Bank over the past week.

Last Tuesday, Israeli forces arrested 12 people including at least three Hamas-affiliates.

One day earlier, Israeli soldiers arrested 23 members of Hamas, including three lawmakers.

Hamas condemned the arrests as a “criminal act” aimed at thwarting Palestinian reconciliation talks.

(Ma’an, Al-AKhbar)