DayofPal—Israeli forces have arrested five Palestinian women in the occupied West Bank this week, including two national football players and three university students.
The detainees were taken during overnight raids and arrests that families say were carried out without clear explanations or formal charges.
Among those detained are 20-year-old footballers Natalie Abu Diya and Rand Halawani, both members of the Palestinian women’s national team, alongside Birzeit University students Sama Safi and Julan Abu Awad, and graduate Laila Nael Khalil.
Palestinian rights groups describe the attack as a growing campaign targeting women and youth.
Relatives reported that Israeli forces searched homes and dormitories, confiscated personal belongings, and transferred the women to detention and interrogation facilities.
Families have expressed particular concern over the health of several detainees. Sama Safi reportedly suffers from Familial Mediterranean Fever, a chronic inflammatory disease requiring continuous medication, while Julan Abu Awad experiences severe recurring migraines that necessitate regular treatment.
Relatives fear that inadequate medical care in detention could worsen their conditions.
The Palestine Football Association condemned the arrests, describing them as part of a broader pattern of targeting Palestinian athletes and calling on international football bodies, including FIFA, to take concrete action.
Palestinian prisoner advocacy groups likewise criticized the detentions, arguing that many are linked to allegations of “incitement” based on social media activity and are increasingly being used against students, athletes, and former detainees.
According to the Palestinian Prisoners’ Club, approximately 9,000 Palestinians are currently held in Israeli prisons, including 89 women.
The organization said at least 19 women are being held under administrative detention, a procedure that allows imprisonment without charge or trial for renewable periods.
Rights groups have also warned of deteriorating conditions for female prisoners, citing concerns over medical negligence, solitary confinement, and other punitive measures.
The latest arrests come amid a broader escalation in detention attacks across the occupied West Bank, where Israeli forces continue to conduct near-daily raids that result in the arrest of dozens of Palestinians each week.
Palestinian organizations view the detentions as part of an ongoing policy of pressure and collective punishment, while families continue to await information regarding the charges and legal proceedings facing the detained women.
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