Israeli military continues to abduct residents from West Bank village of Awarta, 20 more yesterday

WAFA – Israeli forces Monday continue their widespread military operation in Awarta village, near Nablus in the northern West Bank, for the third day, according to local sources.

Qais Awwad, head of the local council, said some village areas remain under curfew as Israeli soldiers continue to raid homes and arrest residents.

The army, Awwad added, has not left the village since Friday night, raiding homes and terrifying the village residents.

The Israeli army has been harassing the village for a month, since the 11th March killing of five Jewish settlers in the nearby Itamar settlement, illegally constructed on Awarta land.

During this time, the army has arrested large numbers of village residents, including women. Twenty residents, including 3 women, were arrested yesterday after the Israelis reimposed the curfew and declared the village a closed military zone.

Villagers said Israeli soldiers caused extensive damage to some homes they raided, after using axes and hammers in their search.

The residents are also being prevented from reaching their land. Awwad stated that about 1000 dunums (1 dunum = 1000 square meters) of village lands are now isolated behind the road being built by the Israelis around Awarta.

The village has already lost, over the last few years, large areas of its lands, some of which were used to expand the illegal Jewish Itamar settlement.