RAMALLAH: An Israeli arrest campaign across the West Bank overnight on Sunday resulted in the detention of at least 25 Palestinians, Israeli and Palestinian media report. Raids focused on major cities such as Ramallah, Nablus, Hebron, and Qalqilya. An Israeli military spokesperson stated that the arrests focused on Hamas-affiliates, Ma'an News Agency says, and among those detained were at least two Palestinian MPs. Many of those arrested are former prisoners and detainees, English-language daily Times of Israel claims, including eight senior Hamas officials. Despite isolated incidents of rock throwing, no major clashes were reported. The arrests come after a turbulent month in the West Bank. In January, several arrest campaigns were launched against Palestinian activists and legislators, a marked uptick in crackdowns and clashes, and at least seven Palestinians were killed by Israeli soldiers. As of January 1, at least 4,743 Palestinians were being held in Israeli prisons. 178 were administrative detainees, held on “secret evidence" without charge or trial; 193 were children, 23 of which were under the age of 16; and at least 12 were Palestinian Legislative Council members. BN
