Israel arrests 24 Hamas members in occupied West Bank

Hamas said it will press ahead with the uprising against Israeli violations after the occupation forces arrested 36 people in the West Bank, 24 of whom were Hamas members.
2 min read
10 November, 2015
The Hamas movement has been accused of inciting attacks against Israel [AFP]

Israel's security forces arrested 24 suspected members of Palestinian group Hamas in overnight raids in the northern West Bank, the army said on Tuesday. 

The Hamas members made up the majority of 36 Palestinians detained last night. 

Hamas said that the arrests would not stop the burgeoning uprising in the West Bank.  

Sami Abu Zuhri, spokesperson for the movement said in a press statement that "oppressive campaigns" lead by the occupation will increase Palestinians' determination to continue the intifada.   

The raids targeted a suspected Hamas network in Qalqilya, a town just over the Green Line from Israel that is partly surrounded by Israel's apartheid wall. 

The area has seen a number of recent violent incidents amidst the recent clashes.  

On Monday, a 24-year-old Palestinian woman was shot dead after allegedly attempting a stabbing attack at a military checkpoint. 

"The heads of the network, who ran the regional headquarters, were operating to renew Hamas activity in the area and plotting terror activity," the Israeli army said.

Those detained included "senior Hamas operatives who have been previously arrested for participating and planning Hamas terror activity," it said, adding that around $9,000 had been seized.

Hamas have repeatedly issued statements encouraging the uprising in the West Bank.  

However, analysts have noted more caution towards renewed resistance in the Gaza strip, which is still experiencing the after-effects of the 2014 war.  

The arrests come amid a flare-up of violence in Israel and the Palestinian territories that has seen 75 Palestinians killed since October 1.