The Israeli occupation military kidnaped at least 16 Palestinians, including a woman and several former prisoners, during overnight raids in the occupied West Bank, the Palestinian Prisoner Society (PPS) reported on Monday.

The arrests took place in al-Khalil (Hebron), Jenin, and Ramallah, according to the PPS. These detentions bring the total number of Palestinians arrested in the West Bank since October last year to over 12,000, including those who were briefly detained and released. This figure excludes thousands of arrests reportedly made in the Gaza Strip.

The PPS highlighted the harsh nature of the raids, noting that they were accompanied by acts of vandalism, threats against detainees and their families, and other abuses.

Over the past several years, Israeli forces have conducted frequent military operations in the West Bank, with these raids intensifying since the outbreak of the Gaza conflict on October 7, 2023. Alongside military operations, Palestinians in the region have also been subjected to violent attacks by illegal Israeli settlers.

According to the Palestinian Ministry of Health, at least 807 Palestinians have been killed and more than 6,450 others injured by Israeli forces in the West Bank since the conflict began.

Human rights organizations and Palestinian officials have consistently condemned the ongoing raids and arrests, which they say exacerbate the already volatile situation in the occupied territories. (ILKHA)