Israel abducts another 37 Palestinians in West Bank raids

Israeli occupation forces abducted another 37 Palestinians overnight Monday, bringing to at least 361 the number of Palestinians arrested since Israel launched a deadly crackdown on the West Bank 10 days ago.

There were no reports of clashes between the soldiers and Palestinians in the violent raids in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, where the military says it has detained 361 people since three Israeli settlers went missing on June 12.

But Palestinian figures put the arrest toll at 471, including 11 legislators, in a crackdown that targeted hundreds of homes, NGO offices, charities, universities and media organizations, local news agency Ma'an reported.

Israeli occupation forces have also killed five Palestinians, including two teenagers, since the crackdown began.

The soldiers have shot dead four Palestinians, including two on Sunday, and a fifth man died of a heart attack trying to prevent occupation forces from breaking into his home.

The Palestinian Liberation Organization, the Palestinians' main ruling body, said in a statement that Israel had "tightened and sometimes closed checkpoints," disrupting travel, and had barred any entry or exit from Hebron in the past 10 days.

Israeli rights groups on Sunday wrote to Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon to denounce the crackdown which they branded "collective punishment" and a violation of basic rights.

Reuters, AFP, Al-Akhbar)