Israeli forces arrest 33 Palestinians, demolish 6 houses

Israeli security forces on Tuesday arrested 33 Palestinians and demolished six houses belonging to Palestinians in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, Palestinian sources said.

The arrests were made in the West Bank cities of Nablus, Bethlehem, Hebron, Ramallah and Tulkarem, besides East Jerusalem, the Palestinian Prisoners Club said in an emailed press release.

The Israeli public radio reported that Israeli forces seized amounts of weapons in Al-Jalazon refugee camp near Ramallah.

Israeli forces screened the house of Amjad Jaser Abu Omar near Nablus in preparation for its demolition, reported the radio.

Abu Omar, 35, was shot dead by Israeli soldiers last week after he opened fire at a checkpoint in northern Ramallah, injuring three soldiers.

Meanwhile, Palestinian sources said that Israeli forces demolished four houses in three villages in southern Hebron city, under the pretext of unlicensed construction.

The demolition sparked clashes between the residents of the three villages and the Israeli forces, leaving several Palestinians suffocated after inhaling tear gas, said the sources.

Local sources also confirmed that Israel demolished two homes belonging to Palestinian families in East Jerusalem, for being built without permit.

Twenty five Israelis and one U.S. citizen were killed in a string of lone-wolf attacks by Palestinians in the past four and a half months.

At least 160 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire, most of whom were killed after allegedly carrying attacks. Endit