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Israel sets up new East Jerusalem checkpoint as 10 detained

October 21, 2015 at 1:09 pm

Israeli forces set up a checkpoint on Wednesday in the Al-Sawana neighbourhood of occupied East Jerusalem as ten Palestinians were detained across the city.

Witnesses in Al-Sawana told Ma’an News Agency that Israeli troops set up cement blocks and deployed Israeli soldiers at the main entrance of the neighbourhood, which connects the Palestinian areas of Al-Tur and Wadi Al-Joz.

The checkpoint is located nearby the Palestinian Red Crescent Hospital, the Al-Ibrahimiya school, as well as Al-Awael kindergarten, causing a large traffic jam lasting for over three hours and delaying students and employees.

Israeli forces inspected cars and checked the identities of those passing through, witnesses added.

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Many roads leading into Palestinian neighbourhoods in East Jerusalem have been sealed over the past week as the Israeli leadership attempts to deter ongoing attacks in the area.

An Amnesty International worker Wednesday referred to measures taken by Israeli authorities in the area as “the collective punishment of thousands of people.”

Meanwhile ten Palestinians were detained throughout the occupied East Jerusalem area after Israeli forces raided their homes.

Amjad Abu Asab, spokesman for a committee that represents Jerusalem prisoners, said that Israeli forces detained Tamer Al-Khalafawi, Bahjat Al-Razim, Firas Jarjour, and Thaer Muhammad Muhiesn from the Issawiya neighbourhood.

A lawyer at prisoners’ rights group Addameer said that Israeli forces detained three Palestinians from Jabal Al-Mukaber, identifying the detainees as Salim Owisat, Muhammad Aziz Owisat, and Muhammad Khalayl.

Amani Alyan was also detained from Shufat, and Israeli forces detained Ahmad Sabri abu Diab and Mamoun Al-Razim after raiding their houses in Silwan, according to Majdi Al-Abbassi from the Wadi Hilweh Information Center.

The latest Jerusalem detentions come after nearly 50 Palestinians were detained throughout the occupied West Bank overnight Tuesday.