Israel detains 24 Palestinians in overnight raids

RAMALLAH, Palestine

The Israeli army detained 24 Palestinians in overnight raids in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem, according to Palestinian NGOs on Wednesday.

In a statement, the Palestinian Prisoners Society said Israeli forces rounded up 18 Palestinians after raiding their homes in the West Bank cities of Ramallah and Nablus.

Six people were also arrested in the Jerusalem neighborhood of al-Isawyia, according to Amjad Abu Assab, head of Jerusalem Committee for Families of Prisoners.

The Israeli army frequently carries out wide-ranging arrest campaigns in the West Bank on the pretext of searching for "wanted" Palestinians.

According to Palestinian official figures, more than 6,400 Palestinians are currently held in detention facilities throughout Israel.

The arrests come amid tension in the Palestinian territories after U.S. President Donald Trump's decision two weeks ago to officially recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital and move the U.S. embassy from Tel Aviv to the holy city.