Troops arrest 13 Palestinians, including Hamas leader

On Tuesday 12th February, Israeli occupation forces carried out a large arrest campaign in the West Bank different villages and cities. 13 Palestinians were arrested including Hamas leader. Security sources told Palestinian official news agency WAFA that Israeli forces arrested Abed Mohammad Hijazy, 19, from al-Saf Street and Munjed Saleh Abu Aker, 23, from Aida refugee camp in Bethlehem. The forces also arrested five Palestinians from TulKarem city. A large military force, escorted by dogs, stormed several houses in Tulkarem, rummaged with the contents, then arrested Ra'fat Nasif, a leader in Hamas movement, Qatada Ammar al-Badawi, 22, Abdullah Ismael Khalel, 20, Mus'ab Wasfe al-Ashqar, 21, and Ammar Jihad Ameer, 27. In Nablus, Israeli forces arrested four Palestinians from Tal village. Eyewitnesses said that a number of Israeli military vehicles raided Tal village and searched several houses. Security sources told WAFA that Israeli forces arrested Waleed Jamal Ayoub Aseda, 24, Muntaser Jamil Eshtaiyeh, 23, Osama Khaled Yamen, 23, and Mussa Ahmad Mussa Yamen. The forces also raided Azmout village, east of Nablus, broke into the house of Abdul Ghani Ayech Samarah, searched it and arrested him. In Hebron, Israeli forces arrested Fadi Issac Jaradat, 30, from Sa'ir village, at Za'tra military checkpoint, south of Bethlehem. The forces raided several neighbourhoods north of Hebron including: Farsh al-Hawa, Halhoul Bridge, Ethna and Tarqomiya villages, west of Hebron. The forces stormed Beit Ummar village, north of Hebron, broke into the house of Jamal Khalil Abu Marya in an aggressive way, assaulted him and confisicated his ID, then arrested his 19-year-old son Tareq.