Israeli Forces Arrest Over 3,400 Palestinians in First Half of 2016

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — More than 3,400 Palestinians were arrested by the Israeli forces since the beginning of 2016, a report published by several Palestinian prisoner organizations revealed on Monday.

"The institutions concerned with prisoners’ affairs revealed that the Israeli occupation has arrested in the first half of 2016, 3412 Palestinians, including 706 children and 96 women and girls," the report issued by Prisoners Affairs Commission, Palestinian Prisoners’ Society, Addameer Prisoner Support and Human Rights Association and Al-Mezan Center for Human Rights showed.

A total of 6,326 Palestinians have been detained since the Palestinian popular uprising started in October 2015, the report found out.

Violence between Israel and Palestine escalated in the autumn of 2015. Over 30 Israelis were killed and over 300 wounded as a result of almost daily Arab attacks over a period of six months. In total, about 200 Palestinians were killed – most while trying to attack Israelis using firearms, bladed weapons or by hitting them with vehicles.

According to the report, some 7,000 Palestinians are currently in Israeli prisons, including around 330 children and 64 women.

Palestinians seek recognition for their independent state on the territories of West Bank as well as East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip. The Israeli government denies Palestine's claims, refusing to diplomatically recognize the existence of a Palestinian state. Peace talks between the sides are consistently deadlocked.