Israeli forces strike West Bank cities, seizing 22 Palestinians

18 October 2007

Nablus – Ma'an – Israeli forces seized 22 Palestinians throughout the West Bank early Thursday morning.

An invading Israeli force detained eight activists affiliated with Hamas and Fatah in the northern West Bank city of Nablus and the nearby Balata refugee camp.

Israeli forces entered the city after midnight, storming house after house. A Palestinian military group engaged the Israeli force inside Balata camp.

Israeli forces seized 14 other Palestinians during raids in Tulkarem, Nablus, Ramallah, and Hebron, Israeli Army radio reported.

The Israeli army claimed to have uncovered weapons caches.

In the northern West Bank town of Qabatiya, the Israeli forces seized five Palestinians after storming several houses.

Palestinian fighters fired on the Israeli force, but no injuries were reported.

The troops also broke into the home of Islamic Jihad leader Abdul-Fattah Al-Khuzaimi and Popular Resistance Committees leader Qusay Nazzal. The soldiers demanded that the families turn over the two activists or face assassination.