World Bulletin / News Desk

 Israeli authorities on Wednesday detained a Palestinian woman as she tried to cross from the occupied West Bank into the blockaded Gaza Strip via the Israel-controlled Erez border crossing.

The 42-year-old woman was detained as she tried to return to Gaza from the West Bank, according to Maher Abu Sabha, head of Gaza's border authority.

He said the woman had been in the West Bank to accompany a relative seeking medical treatment in the occupied territory.

In recent weeks, the Israeli authorities, Abu Sabha said, have stepped up the detention of Palestinians moving between the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.

Israel has detained 61 Palestinians from the Gaza Strip since the beginning of the year, according to the Palestinian Prisoners Center for Studies, an NGO.

The NGO said detained Palestinians included medical patients, individuals accompanying patients, and traders.