RAMALLAH, Palestine

The Israeli army on Saturday detained 20 more Palestinians in the occupied West Bank. 

According to a joint statement issued by the Prisoners and Ex-Prisoners Affairs Authority and the Palestinian Prisoners Society, the new arrests brought the total number of Palestinians detained by the Israeli forces since Oct. 7 to 8,480.

The latest arrests took place mostly in Ramallah, Jerusalem, Hebron, Nablus, Tulkarm, and Jenin.

During the Israeli arrest campaigns, the Israeli forces physically assaulted and abused Palestinians, while damaging their homes and property, the statement added.

As it has continued to wage its offensive in the Gaza Strip since Oct 7, the Israeli army has also stepped up raids and arrests in the West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem.

The Palestinian Health Ministry said 491 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces in the West Bank since Oct. 7.

The destructive war on Gaza has resulted in more than 34,300 deaths and injuries, most of them children and women, along with massive destruction and a famine that claimed the lives of children and elderly, according to Palestinian and international data.

Israel continues this war despite a UN Security Council resolution calling for an immediate cease-fire. Tel Aviv is also facing charges of committing "genocide" before the International Court of Justice.  

* Writing by Ikram Kouachi