Arabic version: قوات الاحتلال الإسرائيلية تعتقل أكثر من 100 فلسطيني مع بداية رمضان

Israeli forces have detained more than 100 Palestinians from the occupied West Bank since the beginning of Ramadan, according to Middle East Eye. The detentions include women, children, and former detainees, as the military has intensified its arrest campaign across various West Bank governorates.

The surge in detentions commenced on February 18, coinciding with the start of Ramadan. In addition to the arrests, Israeli authorities have banned the display of traditional Ramadan decorations in Jerusalem and restricted other customary celebrations associated with the Islamic holy month.

Reports indicate that thousands of Palestinian worshippers were barred from accessing Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem to perform the first Friday prayer of Ramadan, despite holding previously issued permits. The Palestinian Prisoner’s Society described the arrests as accompanied by severe beatings and acts of violence against detainees and their families.

Currently, over 9,300 Palestinians are held in Israeli prisons, including 350 children. The rights group highlights a concerning trend of starvation policies affecting prisoners, who have been receiving inadequate rations for nearly two and a half years. Further, detainees have faced restrictions on collective prayer and access to religious texts.

Human rights organizations have raised alarms over the treatment of detainees, with reports of deaths due to torture, starvation, and medical neglect. Since October 2023, at least 1,117 Palestinians have been killed, and around 11,500 others injured in military actions and attacks by illegal settlers in the West Bank.