Ramallah, Jan. 26 (Petra) -- Israeli occupation forces on Monday launched a large-scale raid north of occupied Jerusalem, storming the town of Kafr Aqab and Qalandia refugee camp to tighten control along the West Bank separation wall, and also demolished Palestinian property in the West Bank.

The Palestinian Jerusalem Governorate said Israeli forces raided residential buildings and ordered the evacuation of some as troops took to balconies and rooftops and fired live rounds, tear gas, stun grenades and rubber-coated bullets against Palestinians.

The raid coincided with a large troop deployment along the Jerusalem road adjacent to Qalandia camp where army machinery removed sections of the annexation and separation wall at the end of Airport Road for the entry of dozens of military vehicles.

In occupied Jerusalem, dozens of Jewish settlers stormed the Al Aqsa Mosque grounds under the heavy escort of police and performed prayers, the Jerusalem Islamic Waqf Department, the custodian of the holy compound, said.

Israeli forces also carried out raids and arrests across Palestinian towns and cities in the West Bank, detaining 19 Palestinians, as settlers stepped up attacks on homes and property.

The Palestinian Prisoners Society said soldiers conducted field interrogations of dozens of Palestinians during a raid of the villages of Illar and Seida, north of Tulkarm, where residents were assaulted and homes searched and ransacked.

In the southern West Bank, the Israeli army demolished barracks and livestock enclosures near Yatta village, south of Hebron.

//Petra// AO