RAMALLAH, Palestine

Israeli forces rounded up 20 more Palestinians in military raids in the occupied West Bank on Sunday, raising the total number of Palestinian detainees to 4,540 since Oct.7, according to prisoners’ affairs groups.

A joint statement issued by the Prisoners and Ex-Prisoners Affairs Authority and the Palestinian Prisoners Society said the majority of the arrests took place in Hebron, Bethlehem, Ramallah, Nablus, and Tulkarm in the West Bank.

“The Israeli occupation forces continue to carry out massive incursions into several areas, accompanied by field executions, widespread arrest and torture campaigns, severe beatings, field investigations, and threats against detainees and their families, in addition to widespread sabotage and destruction of citizens’ homes,” according to the two institutions.

The total number of Palestinian detainees in Israeli jails is estimated at around 7,800, including more than 2,870 held under Israel's notorious administrative detention policy without charge or trial.

Tensions have been running high across the West Bank amid an Israeli military offensive on the Gaza Strip following a cross-border attack by Hamas on Oct. 7.

At least 297 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces and settlers in the West Bank since then, in addition to more than 3,430 others injured, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry.

* Writing by Ikram Kouachi