According to Palestinian figures, more than 650,000 Israeli settlers now live on 196 Jewish-only settlements (built with the Israeli government’s approval) across the West Bank, in addition to more than 200 settler “outposts” (built without its approval).
In a related development, the Israeli army rounded up 24 Palestinians in overnight raids carried out across the occupied territory, a Palestinian NGO said Wednesday.
“Fourteen Palestinians were detained after Israeli forces raided their homes in the northern West Bank city of Tulkarm,” the Palestinian Prisoner's Society said in a statement.
Another six Palestinians were detained in the West Bank cities of Nablus, Qalqilia and Jericho, the NGO added, along with four others in Hebron (Al-Khalil) and East Jerusalem.
The Israeli army frequently carries out sweeping arrest campaigns in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem, which ostensibly target Palestinians "wanted" by the Israeli authorities.
According to Palestinian figures, roughly 6,400 Palestinians are currently languishing in Israeli prisons, including scores of women and hundreds of minors.