On the ninth day of the ongoing and escalating Israeli military siege and offensive against the Hebron district, in the southern part of the occupied West Bank, Israeli soldiers continued the home invasions, arrests, and destruction of property.The Maan News Agency has reported that dozens of soldiers invaded, on Saturday evening, the Taffouh Town Council, detained its head, Mahmoud Ezreiqat, and several members of the local council.
Council members were holding a meeting to assess the destruction caused by the ongoing Israeli offensive and home invasions, the attacks and destruction of local facilities, intuitions and orphanages, in addition to continued kidnappings carried out by the army.
Maan also stated the soldiers invaded the Ithna School for boys, in Ithna nearby town, and turned it into a military base. The army also installed roadblocks, completely isolating the town, and initiated military searches targeting dozens of homes.
Local sources in Ithna said the invasion led to a power blackout in the town, while clashes has also been reported in the al-Mahawer area.
Local sources stated that dozens of local youth hurled stones and empty bottles at the invading soldiers, and that the army fired rubber-coated metal bullets and gas bombs; several residents suffered the effects of tear gas inhalation.
In Halhoul nearby town, soldiers invaded two local mosques, and violently searched them.
Maan said the army invaded Nabi Younis Mosque, after shattering one of its doors, violently searched it, and detained the muezzin.
The soldiers also invaded al-‘Omari Mosque, searched it, and also tried to invade the building of the Zakat and Waqf Committee in Halhoul town, but could not break into it.
In addition, soldiers invaded the home of Mohammad Khaled ash-Shatreet, 23, and searched it, before assaulting several children below the age of ten, in Halhoul. Two of the children are brothers who have been identified as Adham and Ayham Akram Abu Sayma.
In related news, soldiers kidnapped Faraj Abdul-Razeq Gheith, his sons Ahmad, 28 and Omar, 24, after invading their home in Hebron city, and took them to the police station in Keryat Arba’ settlement, in the city.
The father and his two sons were kidnapped after the soldiers attacked them and other family members, causing them to suffer various cuts and bruises.
Soldiers also invaded and violently searched several homes in the city, and in nearby communities.
Dozens of soldiers were deployed on various roads between Hebron city and Halhoul, stopped and searched dozens of cars, while interrogating the residents and inspecting their ID cards.
Also, soldiers stopped the car of residents Samer Abu Mayyala, 30, at a roadblock, and kidnapped him after searching his vehicles.
The extensive military invasions in Hebron, and various parts of the occupied West Bank, are still ongoing.
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