16 Palestinian citizens rounded up by IOF in WB

16 Palestinian citizens rounded up by IOF in WB

RAMALLAH, (PIC)-- At least 16 Palestinian civilians were rounded up by the Israeli occupation forces (IOF) at dawn Sunday following a round of raids into different areas in the West Bank under the security pretext. 17 other citizens sustained gas and bullet wounds in a flurry of clashes that burst out between the heavily-armed occupation troops and Palestinian civilians on Saturday evening in al-Arroub refugee camp, Halhoul, Bab al-Zaouia, and al-Khalil. The Israeli TV Channel 7 claimed that 11 captives, mostly Hamas affiliates, are expected to be interrogated by the Israeli intelligence. Local sources said the Israeli occupation army stormed at dawn al-Arroub refugee camp, north of al-Khalil, and rounded up three Palestinian young men. The IOF rummaged through the camp under pretext that the adjacent military watchtower was targeted with gunfire by Palestinian resistance elements. The invading patrols cut off power around the camp and ransacked civilian homes in the area. The IOF rounded up Abdul Jabar Muhammad al-Haded, 22, near the Ibrahimi Mosque and beat him up before setting him free. A number of Palestinian citizens were treated for breathing problems as they inhaled tear gas discharged by the IOF in another spate of violent clashes that broke out Sunday morning at al-Jalama checkpoint, north of Jenin. The IOF have come down heavily on Palestinian workers and set up random military barriers in the area, local sources further reported. In a related event, clashes erupted in Salfit overnight Saturday and early Sunday morning as the IOF broke into Deir Istiya village, to the northwest of the city. Eye-witnesses documented heavy firing of gas canisters on the Palestinian civilian youngsters. The invading patrols closed the western entrance to the village with sand barriers and rocket piles, for the third time during this month. The IOF arrested three Palestinian youths following an incursion into Ni’lin, west of Ramallah. The Israeli soldiers fired live ammunition, tear gas, and stun grenades on Palestinian homes and civilians, leading to a remarkable state of panic among women and children. The clashes spread out to west of Ramallah after the IOF captured former head of the village council, Muhammad Marar, along with a member of the Preventive Security Services and dragged them to the Separation Wall area for an on-the-spot investigation that lasted for two hours. The IOF attacked Palestinian youngsters with barrages of tear gas and rubber bullets as they voiced their protest over such arbitrary arrests.