Israeli forces yesterday arrested prominent leaders in the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) during overnight raids that were carried out in the occupied West Bank’s central city of Ramallah.
Eyewitnesses told Safa Press Agency that the arrests included Palestinian lawmaker the and senior member of the PFLP’s Political Bureau, Khalida Jarrar, after her house was broken into in occupied West Bank city of Al-Bireh.
The 54-year-old has already served a 14-month jail term for alleged “incitement to violence against Israelis”. She was released in June 2016.
The occupation forces also stormed the Al-Tahta and Al-Tira villages in Ramallah, where they arrested PFLP leader, Ihab Massoud. Clashes broke out during his arrest.
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Massoud has spent 16 years in Israeli jails and was most recently released five months ago.
According to eyewitnesses, over 15 military patrols and armoured personnel carriers, supported by Special Forces, accompanied the Israeli forces that raided the occupied West Bank.
Israeli forces also raided the Beitunia town, southwest of Ramallah, and detained the chairwoman of the Union of Palestinian Women’s Committees, Khitam Saafin, from her home.
Another nine Palestinians were reported to have been detained during yesterday’s raids. They include Samed Jibrin Al-Jawabra, Muhammad Yaqoub Al-Qasas, Issa Nidal Abu Ali and Murad Jasir Al-Sharif all from the Al-Arroub refugee camp located in the southern occupied West Bank along the Hebron-Jerusalem road in the Hebron Governorate.