(MENAFN- Jordan News Agency)

Ramallah, July 9 (Petra) -- Israeli occupation forces arrested 16 Palestinians on Tuesday from the occupied West Bank, including children and former prisoners.
According to a joint statement by the Commission for Ex-Prisoners Affairs and the Palestinian Prisoners Society, the arrests took place in Ramallah, Qalqilya, Hebron, Nablus, Bethlehem, and Jericho. These operations were marked by attacks and threats against detainees and their families, as well as widespread destruction of Palestinian homes, added the statement.
Since October 7, the total number of arrests has reached approximately 9,600. This figure includes those arrested from their homes, through military checkpoints, those forced to surrender under pressure, and those held hostage.
The ongoing arrest campaigns are often accompanied by systematic abuse and torture of detainees and their families. The occupation forces have not spared the sick, wounded, or elderly during these operations, it said.
These arrest campaigns are a central part of the occupation forces' systematic policies and collective punishment strategy. They have become a prominent tool in targeting Palestinians amidst the comprehensive aggression against the Palestinian people and the ongoing genocide in Gaza since October 7.
The data on arrests includes individuals who remain in detention and those who were subsequently released.

MENAFN09072024000117011021ID1108421295