Zionist regime forces arrest 17 Palestinians in West Bank

Zionist regime has arrested over a dozen more Palestinians as the Israeli forces continue to search for three settlers allegedly abducted in the occupied West Bank.

Israeli authorities arrested 17 Palestinians, including a parliament member, across the West Bank on Wednesday.

The incident was continuation of serial arrests of Palestinians over the alleged abduction of three Israeli settlers two weeks ago.

On Monday, a spokesperson for the Israeli military said authorities arrested 37 Palestinians in the West Bank.

Over 400 people, including Hamas members and lawmakers, have been arrested since the settlers went missing on June 12, Palestinian officials confirmed.

Several Palestinians have been also shot dead during the search operations, triggering international condemnation.

On Saturday, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon voiced concern over the mass arrests of the Palestinians and the restrictions on their movement in the West Bank.

Israeli warplanes have also intensified airstrikes on the Gaza Strip.

Tel Aviv accuses Hamas of being behind the alleged disappearance of the settlers.

However, Hamas has denied any involvement, saying Tel Aviv’s allegation about the abduction of the three Israeli settlers by the Palestinian resistance movement is aimed at torpedoing the recent reconciliation deal between Hamas and Fatah.

In April, Palestinian factions Fatah and Hamas signed an agreement to end years of rivalry and form a unity government. The move irked Washington and Tel Aviv.