Israeli Army Arrests 17 Suspects in West Bank Security Sweeps

Israel Defense Forces (IDF) arrested 17 suspects, seven of whom are allegedly Hamas members, in overnight security sweeps across the West Bank between Monday and Tuesday, Jerusalem Post reported.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — According to Israeli media, ten of those detained "allegedly took part in unorganized violence and disturbances targeting civilians and members of the security forces."

IDF conducts night security raids in the West Bank on a regular basis. Recently, Israeli soldiers arrested 13 Palestinians suspected of disturbing the public order and taking part in "popular terrorism" against civilians.

Rights watchdogs stress that many of those arrested during such sweeps are minors. In January the Children Rights International Network (CRIN) said that Israeli forces arrest about 700 Palestinian minors every year and try them in military courts, most for “security violations.”

Israeli troops occupied the West Bank during the Six-Day War in June 1967. Some 80 percent of the territory's population is comprised of Palestinian Arabs, the remainder are Israeli settlers. Palestinians seek the creation of an independent state on the territories of the West Bank, including East Jerusalem.