World Bulletin/News Desk

Israeli forces have detained eight Palestinians in the occupied West Bank overnight over their suspected involvement in "activities against Israeli targets," according to the Israeli military.

The army, in a Wednesday statement, said that five were detained in Jenin in the north, including a local Hamas leader, and three others in the nearby Arraba town.

The detainees were moved to a detention center run by the internal security agency (Shin Bet) for interrogation, the release added.

Israeli forces routinely conduct detention campaigns against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank on claims that they are "wanted" by Israeli authorities.

Over 7,000 Palestinians are currently languishing in prisons throughout Israel, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Prisoners' Affairs.

Israel navy detains 5 Gaza fishermen

Israeli naval forces detained on Wednesday morning five Palestinian fishermen off the coast of the Gaza Strip, the Gaza Fishermen Union has said.

The Israeli forces detained the five fishermen, who all come from the same family, after surrounding their fishing boat as they went about their work, Nizar Ayyash, the union's head, told Anadolu Agency.

"The Israeli army claims that the boat has surpassed the six-mile fishing range [allowed by Israel],"Ayyash said.

He added that Israeli naval forces also confiscated the boat.

The Israeli army has yet to comment on the incident.

In late August, Israel allowed Palestinian fishermen to ply their trade up to six nautical miles off the coast of the Gaza Strip – as opposed to a previous three miles.

The cease-fire had ended 51 days of relentless Israeli attacks on the coastal enclave, which saw over 2,160 Palestinians killed – the vast majority of them civilians – and nearly 11,000 injured.

According to Ayyash, some 50,000 Gazans earn their living from the fishing business.

He estimated their combined losses during Israel's recent war at more than $6 million.

Ever since Hamas won the 2006 legislative polls, Israel has imposed a tight land and sea blockade on the Gaza Strip.

The self-proclaimed Jewish state tightened the blockade even further after Hamas took control of the enclave from rival Fatah one year later.