Israeli occupation forces and settlers continue rampages in West Bank

Eight more Palestinians have been arrested and further incursions have been made at Al-Aqsa Mosque as Israeli occupation forces and illegal Jewish settlers continue their rampages across the occupied West Bank. Those arrested include a child.

The Palestinian Prisoners’ Forum said that the Israeli forces detained Awadallah Hassan, aged 15, from his house in the Dora neighbourhood of Ramallah. In Jenin, Mahmoud abul-Haijaa from Al-Yamoun said that the Israeli troops burst into his home, searched it (causing much damage in the process) and took away his son, Mohamed, aged 20. Witnesses in Hebron said that local man Omar Jaber was taken from his home to an unknown destination after Israeli forces entered and searched the premises.

Another squad of Israeli soldiers swept into Balata refugee camp in Nablus and detained Omar Swalmeh, 21, Qais abu-Jonaid, 22 and Omar Hashash, 20. Witnesses said that the troops broke into several Palestinian houses before detaining the young men.

According to the Palestinian Youth Gathering Against Israeli Settlements protest group, journalist Abdul-Aziz Nofal from central Hebron was also arrested. Nofal was detained while preparing a report about Israel’s settlements in the wake of the latest Israeli announcement that it plans to enlarge the illegal colonies. Another man, Jawad abu-Aisha, was also arrested in the same area.

Meanwhile, a large number of Israeli rabbis and settlers have broken into Al-Aqsa Mosque accompanied, claim local sources, by a “massive” security presence. Al-Aqsa Foundation for Endowments and Islamic Heritage said that the Israeli occupation forces are corralling hundreds of students and worshippers in corners of the mosque compound in order to let the rabbis and settlers carry out their rituals.

The Foundation warned recently of a wave of Israeli aggression against Al-Aqsa Mosque, especially during the Easter period. Such incursions at Easter have become something of a ritual for the Israelis.