IranPress/Middle East: Israeli forces have attacked the occupied West Bank city of al-Khalil on Wednesday shooting sound bombs and tear gas at Palestinians and began stopping and searching Palestinian residents and vehicles in the city.
According to the Palestinian Red Crescent, dozens of Palestinians were injured in the attack, including six who suffered from tear gas inhalation and one who was hit on the head with a tear gas canister and was rushed to hospital suffered major head injuries.
Video footage has been released by local residents showing Israeli forces questioning and searching residents, and Palestinian residents running as soldiers fired tear gas and sound bombs.
Palestinian residents of al-Khalil endure a large Israeli military presence on a daily basis, as at least 32 permanent and partial Israeli checkpoints are set up throughout the city.
In recent months, there has been a sharp rise in raids conducted by Israeli security forces in the West Bank, with 520 Palestinians – including journalists – having been arrested in July alone. The arrests come as settlements are also currently being expanded in al-Khalil.
Meanwhile, Israeli security forces on Thursday morning arrested five Palestinians in occupied East Jerusalem, including the wife of a Palestinian lawmaker Nisreen Dwayat.
The Israeli army frequently carries out sweeping arrest campaigns across the occupied West Bank on the pretext of searching for "wanted" Palestinians.
According to Palestinian figures, some 6,500 Palestinians are currently languishing in Israeli jails, including dozens of women, scores of minors, and at least six Palestinian lawmakers.
