16 killed, 1,227 arrested in Palestine

Israeli occupation forces (IOF) killed 16 Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip since the start of 2013, the Ahrar center for prisoners' studies and human rights said on Saturday. The center said in a statement that 12 Palestinian were killed in the West Bank, including two captives, and 4 in Gaza, reported Palestinian Information Center. The statement pointed out that 15 of the detainees were from Gaza, adding that they were arrested either at the crossings or at the Gaza shores. According the report 1,227 Palestinians were arrested by Israel in the same period. The center said that most of the detainees in the West Bank were from Al-Khalil where 310 Palestinians were arrested or 25% of the total number of detainees followed by occupied Jerusalem with 243 detainees or 20% of the total number. The center noted that four of the detainees were MPs bringing the total number of MPs or former ministers held in Israeli occupation jails to 16. The arrest campaigns targeted all layers of the Palestinian society as academicians, students, and national and Islamic leaders were among those detained, the center said.