Qalqilya: Israeli occupation forces on Tuesday evening detained two Palestinians from the occupied West Bank governorates of Qalqilya and Bethlehem, according to eyewitnesses and local sources. They reported that the forces entered a house in the northern part of Azzun town, east of Qalqilya, conducted a thorough search, and detained a Palestinian man in his 50s.
Meanwhile, another Palestinian, also in his 50s, was detained by occupation soldiers at a flying checkpoint at the entrance of Umm Salamuna village, south of Bethlehem. The detainee was identified as a resident of Beit Fajjar town.
According to Palestine News and Information Agency - WAFA, these events are part of frequent raids conducted by occupation forces across the West Bank. These raids are often justified as searches for 'wanted' Palestinians and are carried out without the need for a search warrant, often leading to clashes with local residents. Israeli military law grants army commanders extensive powers over the 3 million Palestinians living in the West Bank, leaving them with no influence over how these powers are used.
The latest figures from Addameer, the Palestinian Prisoner Support and Human Rights Association, indicate there are currently 9,250 Palestinian political prisoners in Israeli prisons and detention centers, including 350 child prisoners and 49 female prisoners. This includes approximately 3,368 Palestinians held under 'administrative detention', which permits detention without charge or trial for renewable periods ranging from three to six months, based on undisclosed evidence.
The mass arrest of Palestinians has been a long-standing issue. A 2017 report by Addameer revealed that over the past 50 years, more than 800,000 Palestinians have been imprisoned or detained by Israel, with the current figure believed to be closer to 1 million. This translates to about 40% of Palestinian men and boys living under military occupation having been deprived of their freedom, affecting nearly every Palestinian family.