Israeli forces arrest 40 Palestinians
TEL AVIV: Israeli security forces arrested 40 Palestinians on Friday after an increase in violence in the West Bank and Jerusalem, the Israeli army said.
Three separate incidents on Thursday left two Israeli soldiers dead and several others, including soldiers and civilians, injured.
The Israeli army issued a statement saying those arrested had been involved in “terrorist activities” and violent riots. It said 37 of them were members of the Hamas.
Hamas declared a “day of wrath” on Friday with protests planned in the West Bank, with the Palestinian group also celebrating its 31st anniversary.
“Hamas will carry on with its struggle until our people’s aspirations are achieved mainly freedom, return (to former Palestinian territory that is today part of Israel) and independence,” it said in a statement sent to reporters.
In the most violent incident on Thursday, two Israeli soldiers were killed in a shooting at a bus stop in the West Bank.
A third soldier was severely wounded and another Israeli was in a serious condition.
Israeli checkpoints around the city of Ramallah — the administrative centre of the Palestinians in the West Bank — continue to exist, an Israeli army spokesman said.
The spokesman added that the hunt for the bus stop assailant was still ongoing. Media reports said the severely wounded soldier was in a life-threatening condition.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has announced an expansion of Israeli settlements in the West Bank in response to the attacks.
Among other moves, the construction of 82 apartments in the settlement of Ofra is to be approved.
Netanyahu also said that the destruction of attackers’ homes should start faster — within 48 hours if possible.
A Times of Israel report said members of parliament from settler areas had issued an ultimatum to Netanyahu, threatening to overthrow his government if action was not taken. He holds a slim majority of 61 to 59 seats in parliament.
Israel occupied the West Bank, which is claimed by Palestinians for a future state, in the 1967 Six-day War.
Much of the international community considers Israeli settlements illegal and an impediment to the Israeli-palestinian peace process.