Israeli forces kidnap seven Palestinians in West Bank

Israeli forces have raided a number of Palestinian homes in the occupied West Bank, arresting at least seven people.

The Palestinians were arrested after Israeli troops stormed their homes in the cities of Bethlehem, located about 10 kilometers (6 miles) south of al-Quds (Jerusalem), Husan and al-Khalil (Hebron), located 30 kilometers (19 miles) south of al-Quds, early on Sunday.

Local residents said the abductees were taken to an unknown location.

Five of the detainees are reportedly accused of throwing stones at Israeli military forces.

A Palestinian human rights organization says Israel is holding 540 Palestinians without trial, showing a sharp increase in the number of Palestinian arrestees over the past six years.

The Ahrar Center for Prisoners Studies said on September 26 that the number of Palestinians in Israeli administrative detention is the highest since 2008.

According to the group, Israeli authorities have extended the detention of 70 prisoners in the past three weeks and transferred dozens more to administrative detention.

It says Israel has used the detention policy for scores of Palestinians arrested since June, following the disappearance and death of three Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank.

Administrative detention is a sort of imprisonment without trial or charge that allows Israel to incarcerate Palestinians for up to six months. The detention order can be renewed for indefinite periods of time.

Human rights groups often criticize Israeli prison authorities for rampant rights abuses in jails and reports of mysterious deaths of inmates in custody.