Israel escalates arbitrary measures against Palestinians

The Israeli occupation forces have escalated arbitrary measures including night raids, arbitrary arrests and travel bans against the Palestinians in the West Bank under the pretext of searching for the three settlers who went missing near Hebron two weeks ago. According to the Alaraby Aljadeed news site, Israel has banned 972 Palestinians under the age of 50 years from travelling, most of whom live in Hebron.

The official in charge of border crossings, Nazmi Muhanna, told the media that the Palestinian Authority has been communicating with the Israelis to lift the travel ban. “Some of the Palestinians affected by the ban were allowed to travel and we hope to help the remaining cases,” he said.

Muhanna called on all Palestinians who are prevented from travelling to go to the relevant Palestinian institutions to follow up their cases to see if the Israelis will allow them to go.

Meanwhile, clashes between the Palestinians and Israeli forces erupted early on Saturday morning in the Dheisheh refugee camp in Bethlehem. A 15 year-old boy was wounded and transferred to hospital. Several cases of suffocation were also reported after the army fired percussion and tear gas bombs against civilians in the camp.

The Israelis raided several houses in Dheisheh and arrested Nidal Abu Aker and Shadi Maali, along with Walid Bustanji and Ahmad Sheikh from Bethlehem.

In a number of other raids across the occupied West Bank, the Israelis arrested the Registrar of Ramallah Court, Yahya Atta, after breaking into his house in the village of Deir Abu Meshal. A student at An-Najah University, Mohamed Nasser was detained in his home in Deir Qaddes village and Hamas official Riyad Nasser was picked up after his home in Deir Dis was raided and searched. Others arrested include Anas Ahmed Obaid at his home near Jerusalem. Cameras and recording devices were seized by soldiers during searches of several homes in Bani Na’im near Hebron. Barriers were erected on roads and in villages around the city.

Palestinian civil defence crews extinguished a fire in the Aroub Forest, north of Hebron, caused, it is claimed, by Israeli soldiers.