Israeli forces detain 44 Palestinians in towns near Bethlehem

Israeli forces detained 44 Palestinians on Monday in the towns of Beit Fajjar and al-Ubeidiya in the Bethlehem Governorate in the occupied West Bank, Wafa news agency reported.

Security sources said Israeli soldiers stormed Beit Fajjar, south of Bethlehem, in large numbers, raided and searched several homes, detained 40 residents, interrogated them on the spot, and then released them.

The source added that occupation forces also detained four Palestinians in al-Ubeidiya, east of Bethlehem.