IOF arrested 475 in August including 39 children, 16 women: Center

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The Palestinian Prisoners Center for Studies said that the Israeli occupation authorities significantly escalated their arrest campaigns against Palestinians during August, adding that 475 arrests were recorded, including 39 children and 16 women.

In its monthly report, the Center said that the Israeli occupation escalated its arrest campaigns, especially in Al-Khalil, Al-Quds, and Jenin, in an attempt to hinder the increasing resistance operations, as the number of arrests among Al-Quds residents reached more than 160.

In the Gaza Strip, the Israeli occupation forces (IOF) arrested six citizens, including four fishermen, who were fishing in northern Gaza, and then released them after hours of investigation.

In addition, the IOF arrested merchant Mohammad Abd Al-Salam Abu Al-Sarhad from the Maghazi camp at the Beit Hanoun checkpoint while on his way to the occupied Palestinian interior.

The IOF also arrested worker Taher Abu Odeh from Beit Hanoun after raiding his workplace in the occupied Palestinian interior, despite having a work permit.

Arresting women and children

The director of the Palestinian Prisoners Center for Studies, Riad Al-Ashqar, said that during August the occupation continued to target children by arresting them, forcing home detention, and imposing financial fines.

The center recorded 39 cases of arresting minors, the youngest of whom is Hamza Sharawneh (9 years old) from the Old City of Al-Quds, who got released after two days of detention.

The IOF arrested 16 women and girls, including university student Dina Jaradat who was arrested after the occupation forces raided her home in Jenin, then extended the duration of her detention five times.

The center mentioned that the occupation forces re-arrested three liberated women prisoners: Tahrir Abu Sariya, Maryam Arafat, and Falasteen Najm, from Nablus, in addition to Walaa Tanja.

The occupation arrested 18-year-old Intisar Al-Ajlouni from Al-Khalil, who was later released on bail, in addition to Al-Quds resident Asmaa Al-Shikhi and her daughter, Raghad, from the town of Silwan, south of Al-Aqsa.

The IOF arrested a woman from Jenin at Barta'a Military Checkpoint while she was with her two children, interrogated her, and released them hours later, before preventing her from entering Barta'a.

The Palestinian Prisoners Center for Studies said that the IOF arrested Halima Na'im, from the town of Al-Zahiriya, south of Hebron, as well as Reem Ali from Shu'fat refugee camp while in the courtyards of Al-Aqsa Mosque.

The occupation forces also arrested Montaha Emara from Umm Al-Fahm, while she was confronting Israeli settlers in occupied Al-Quds, as well as Elham Nouman, during a response to settler incursions into Al-Aqsa Mosque.

Arresting national and Islamic leaders

In the same context, the Israeli occupation carried out a huge campaign of arrests against leaders of the national and Islamic movements. The center said that the IOF arrested several Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), and Fatah figures. 

Administrative orders

The director of the Palestinian Prisoners Center for Studies, Riad Al-Ashqar, pointed out that the Israeli occupation courts escalated their issuing of administrative orders against prisoners during the month of August.

Israeli mock courts issued 185 administrative orders, including 73 new orders and the renewal of 112, bringing the number of administrative orders issued since the beginning of this year to more than 1,200.

Escalatory steps

Al-Ashqar pointed out that the past month witnessed escalatory steps taken by Palestinian prisoners that were supposed to engage in an open hunger strike.

The center director considered that the occupation retracted its intransigence and agreed to suspend punishments against prisoners amid fears of repercussions of an open hunger strike, which could result in a solidarity movement that would escalate the situation.

He also noted the decision to transfer life-sentenced prisoners every six months, which prompted the prisoners to suspend the planned open hunger strike.

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