Israeli forces kidnap 16 Palestinians in overnight raids across West Bank

The raids targeted multiple towns, including Hebron, Ramallah, Nablus, Bethlehem, and Jerusalem. According to local sources, many detainees were subjected to violent confrontations during the operations. The Palestinian Prisoners' Affairs Commission and the Palestinian Prisoners' Society revealed in a joint statement that Israeli forces caused significant property damage and issued threats during the arrests.

Several of those detained are former prisoners who had previously been incarcerated by Israeli authorities. Their re-arrest highlights what Palestinian advocacy groups describe as a systematic campaign against individuals who have been released in the past.

Since October 2023, during an intensifying Israeli military campaign in the West Bank, over 11,800 Palestinians, including residents of Jerusalem, have been detained. Rights organizations and Palestinian authorities have criticized the escalating detentions as collective punishment and a breach of international law.

This latest development adds to growing concerns about the humanitarian and political crisis in the region, as calls for accountability and restraint continue to mount from international observers and human rights groups. (ILKHA)