Ramallah, Dec. 14 (Petra) -- Israeli occupation forces on Sunday launched a wide-scale campaign of raids and arrests across several areas of the occupied West Bank.

In a statement, the Palestinian Prisoners Society said Israeli forces carried out incursions in the cities of Jenin, Salfit, Ramallah, al-Bireh, Nablus, and Tulkarm, arresting 19 Palestinians on allegations that they were wanted by the occupation authorities.

In a related development, Israeli settlers stormed the courtyards of the al-Aqsa Mosque / al-Haram al-Sharif in occupied Jerusalem under heavy protection from Israeli occupation police.

The Jerusalem Islamic Awqaf Department said dozens of settlers entered the Al Aqsa compound in groups through the Maghariba Gate, conducted provocative tours, and performed Talmudic rituals, while occupation police imposed strict security measures and prevented worshipers from entering the mosque to facilitate the settlers’ incursions.

//Petra// AO