Israeli forces detain 15 Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, as settlers storm Al-Aqsa

The Israeli army on Thursday detained 15 Palestinians across the occupied West Bank, as dozens of Israeli extremists stormed the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound.

Sources told The New Arab that four Palestinians were arrested in Ramallah city, one from the Qalandiya refugee camp, two from al-Ubeidiya, one from in al-Khader, four from Hebron, one from Nablus, and two from Jenin refugee camp.

It follows repeated Israeli raids in the occupied Jenin area, resulting in fatalities and a sharp increase in tensions.

Israeli forces shot dead Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh on 11 May as she covered an Israeli raid in Jenin.

Israel "must eliminate" Hamas chief in Gaza, former Israeli army general says after Elad killingshttps://t.co/0uDU1zKGV6

— The New Arab (@The_NewArab) May 6, 2022

From the start of 2021 until March 2022, more than 2,140 Palestinians - including 200 minors and more than 35 women - were detained by Israel, according to a report issued by the Palestinian Prisoners Club (PPC).

Israeli forces regularly launch nighttime raids in the occupied West Bank to detain Palestinians, sometimes often with fatal results. ِ

Meanwhile, dozens of extremist Israel activists stormed Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in occupied East Jerusalem, under the protection of Israeli forces.

Far-right activists regularly raid the compound - home to the third-holiest site in Islam - performing Jewish Talmudic rituals and launching provocative tours of its courtyard, which is under the custodianship of Jordan.

Witnesses said settlers stormed the Muslim holy place from the side of the Magharba Gate, coinciding with a Jewish festival.

Israeli extremists storm the Al-Aqsa Mosque on a regular basis, performing provocative religious ritualshttps://t.co/77N88Ab3ef

— The New Arab (@The_NewArab) May 15, 2022

The compound is home to Al-Aqsa Mosque, the third holiest site in Islam, and the Dome of the Rock, which is revered by Muslims as the location from which the Prophet Muhammad ascended to heaven.

Provocations at the mosque during Ramadan 2021 led to the brutal Gaza-Israel conflict, when hundreds of Palestinians were killed in Israeli airstrikes, including dozens of children.

Israel has illegally occupied the West Bank since 1967 and expanded illegal Israeli settlements in the Palestinian Territories despite international outcry.