Ramallah, Nov. 16 (Petra) – Israeli occupation forces on Sunday carried out widespread raids and arrests in several areas of the West Bank, as well as storming and searching homes and assaulting residents, who faced on-site interrogations.

In a statement, Palestinian Prisoners Society (PPS) said the forces arrested 15 Palestinians from various parts of the West Bank, claiming they were wanted.

In a related development, settlers stormed the courtyards of Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied Jerusalem under police protection.

The Jordan-run Jerusalem Islamic Waqf Department dozens of settlers entered Al-Aqsa Mosque in groups, conducted provocative tours in its courtyards, and performed Talmudic rituals, all under heavy police guard, said its press statement.

The department added that Israeli police turned Jerusalem’s Old City into a military zone and deployed hundreds of officers at close intervals, particularly at the gates of Al-Aqsa Mosque.

//Petra// AO