Israel arrests 35 Palestinians in overnight raids

RAMALLAH, Palestine

The Israeli army detained 35 Palestinians in overnight raids in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, a Palestinian NGO said on Thursday.

“Israeli army forces detained 22 Palestinians after raiding their homes in Kasra village near Nablus in the northern West Bank,” the Palestinian Prisoners Society said in a statement.

“Seven other Palestinians were arrested from the central and northern West Bank cities of Ramallah, and Jenin,” it added.

According to the Prisoners Society, the Israeli army also arrested six Palestinians from occupied East Jerusalem.

The Israeli army frequently carries out wide-ranging arrest campaigns in the West Bank on the pretext of searching for "wanted" Palestinians.

According to Palestinian official figures, more than 6,400 Palestinians are currently held in detention facilities throughout Israel.

The arrests come amid tension in the Palestinian territories after U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to officially recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and move the U.S. embassy to the city.