Israeli forces arrest 8, set explosives to demolish two homes in occupied West Bank
Our colleagues at Al Jazeera Arabic report that at least eight Palestinians were arrested in raids by Israeli forces across the occupied West Bank overnight.
The Palestinian news agency, WAFA, said two Palestinians aged 58 and 23 were arrested in raids on two homes in the Bethlehem governorate, and in a separate incident a Palestinian youth was injured by troops south of Tubas city.
In Qabatiya town, south of Jenin, one person was arrested and the family homes of two slain Palestinians were rigged with explosives by Israeli forces in preparation for demolition, a punitive action that is regularly carried out by Israeli forces, WAFA reports.
Palestinian homes were also raided by Israeli forces in the villages of Kafr Jamal and Kafr Zibad, southeast of Qalqilya city.
Muslim country group slams transfer of Ibrahimi Mosque to settler council
The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has condemned an Israeli decision to transfer the administration of the occupied West Bank’s Ibrahimi Mosque from the Palestinian-run Hebron municipality to the Jewish religious council in the Kiryat Arba settlement.
In a statement, the OIC called the move “a blatant violation of international resolutions, including those issued by UNESCO”.
It added the decision reflects Israel’s attempts to “alter the historical, legal and religious status of Islamic holy sites in the occupied Palestinian territory” and to “impose purported Israeli sovereignty over Palestinian land”.
The OIC stated that all Israeli decisions and actions in the occupied Palestinian territory are illegal and invalid under international law and urged the international community to act to protect the Palestinian population and its holy sites.
Israeli settlers harass shepherds in occupied West Bank
In the latest incident of settler violence in the West Bank, Israeli settlers have chased Palestinian shepherds and tried to steal their livestock in Masafer Yatta, south of Hebron, Wafa reports.
The news agency quoted residents as saying that the incident took place in the area of Khirbet Aqwawis. No injuries were immediately reported.
The area was the subject of the Oscar-winning documentary No Other Land, a Palestinian-Israeli production that depicts life in the beleaguered community.
