Israeli forces arrest youths in Salim

from International Solidarity Movement

Ali Hussin Ali Shtayah (22) was arrested in the village of Salim near Nablus on Saturday 14th February. Around 20 heavily armed soldiers broke into his family’s house at about 2 am in the morning. The army confined the large family in a small room, denying them access to water and the bathroom for two hours. Meanwhile soldiers interrogated Ali privately in a separate room.  He was forced to strip and then searched before being arrested.

The soldiers destroyed several doors, closets and furniture, and confiscated Ali’s computer hard drive and mobile phone. His family was not given a reason for their son’s arrest or told where he was going to be taken and when he would come back.  However, when the soldiers ransacked the closets and threw all that was inside on the floor and turned furniture upside down, they claimed they were searching for a hidden gun. The family stated that no gun was found because they did not have one in their possession.

This is the second arrest in Salim in two weeks.  A 17 year old youth, Noaf Yasir Issa, from Salim village near Nablus was arrested Wednesday night, 4th of February, by Israeli occupation forces. He was transported to Huwarra military base and is currently still in detention.  To date, his family has not been informed of any charges against him.  Noaf has previously never been arrested.

A neighbor reported to the boy’s mother that Noaf had walking on the roadway behind the family’s house when he was taken by soldiers and put in a military jeep.  Shortly thereafter, the Israeli military approached Noaf’s family residence and demanded to know his whereabouts, despite already having him in custody.

According to the family, about 12 soldiers entered the house and ransacked all of the rooms, opening drawers and closets and scattering their contents on the floor.  Minor damage was also done to some furniture.  The soldiers also confiscated a toy plastic knife from a children’s game set.

The invasion of the Issa home took place around midnight.  All of the remaining nine children and their mother were confined to one room of the house while the soldiers were present.  After approximately one and a half hours, the soldiers and their five or six jeeps left the premises.

Israeli military incursions into Salim occur on an almost nightly basis.  During the last few weeks there have been numerous arrests of young men of the village.  These assaults appear to be intended as a tool of intimidation, as well as a means to coerce information from the arrested parties.