Israeli forces have abducted at least 31 Palestinians during an overnight raid on a number of houses in the�northern part of the occupied West Bank.�

Palestinian security sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, said more than 50 Israeli military vehicles rolled into the city of Nablus, located approximately 49 kilometers (30 miles) north of al-Quds (Jerusalem), at around 2 a.m. local time on Wednesday (2300 GMT Tuesday) from several different entrances.

The Israeli soldiers broke into dozens of homes and violently searched them, causing excessive property damage, before detaining the Palestinians.

Israel's internal security service,�Shin Bet, said senior members of the Hamas resistance movement as well as former Palestinian prisoners were among those arrested.

In recent months, Israeli forces have frequently raided the houses of Palestinians in the West Bank, arresting dozens of people, who are then transferred to Israeli prisons, where they are kept without charge.

There have been many reports about the deteriorating health of Palestinian prisoners held inside Israeli jails.

More than 7,000 Palestinians are reportedly held in 17 Israeli prisons and detention camps. Moreover, 540 Palestinians are held without any trial under the so-called administrative detention, which is a sort of imprisonment without trial or charge that allows Israel to incarcerate Palestinians for up to six months. The detention order can be renewed for indefinite periods of time.

By Press TV