Israeli forces have nabbed more than a dozen Palestinians during overnight raids on a number of houses across the occupied East Jerusalem al-Quds, and shut down Palestinian territories prior to the biblical Jewish holidays of Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles) and Simchat Torah.
Local sources, requesting anonymity, said the Israeli troops, supported by a helicopter flying overhead, stormed the predominantly Palestinian neighborhoods of Silwan, al-Issawiya and Jabel Mukaber in addition to Shuafat refugee camp in East Jerusalem al-Quds early on Sunday, and detained 19 people.
The sources added that there were five minors among those arrested.
Israeli police spokeswoman Luba al-Samri said in a statement that the Palestinians were arrested in connection with recent clashes with the Israeli military over Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement) holiday earlier in the month.
Meanwhile, hundreds of Israeli settlers and extremists once again stormed the al-Aqsa Mosque compound in the Old City of Jerusalem al-Quds amid simmering tensions between Israeli forces and settlers on one hand, and Palestinian protesters on the other.
On Sunday morning, a total of 242 illegal settlers forced their way into the holy site through Bab al-Maghariba Gate under tight protection of several groups of Israeli forces, and took numerous provocative pictures.
The occupied territories have already been the scene of increased tensions ever since Israeli forces imposed restrictions on the entry of Palestinian worshipers into the al-Aqsa Mosque compound in August 2015.
Over 250 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces since the beginning of October 2015.
