Palestinians suffocate in Israeli army raid south of Bethlehem

BETHLEHEM: Several Palestinians Friday evening suffocated in an Israeli army raid in the al-Khader town, south of the occupied West Bank city of Bethlehem, according to local sources. They said that Israeli occupation forces barged their way into the southern West Bank town and fired volleys of teargas and concussion bombs towards the villagers' houses, causing several suffocation cases. The occupation forces frequently raid Palestinian houses almost daily across the West Bank on the pretext of searching for 'wanted' Palestinians, triggering clashes with residents. These raids are conducted with no need for a search warrant, whenever and wherever the military chooses in keeping with its sweeping arbitrary powers. Under Israeli military law army commanders have full executive, legislative and judicial authority over 3 million Palestinians living in the West Bank. Palestinians have no say in how this authority is exercised. Source: Palestine news & Information Agency - WAFA