(VIDEO) In a swift operation carried out throughout the West Bank and the Jerusalem area early Thursday Israeli forces apprehended some 60 Hamas government ministers, parliament members and activists in what appears to be an attempt to “decapitate” the organization’s leadership.
During the operation forces received word that the body of kidnapped settler teen Eliyahu Asheri was found in Ramallah.
IDF soldiers during Thursday's operation (Photo: AFP)
Among those arrested during the operation, which began shortly after midnight in Ramallah, Nablus, Qalqilya, Jenin and Jerusalem, are Palestinian Deputy Prime Minister Nasser al-Shaer, Hamas government Labor Minister Muhammad Barghouti, Minister of Jerusalem Affairs Khaled Abu Arfa and many other top officials.
Senior Hamas members Mahmoud Abu Tir and Mahmoud Atuan were apprehended in Jerusalem; most of the Palestinian Legislative Council members on Hamas’ behalf were also detained in various West Bank cities.
Hamas spokesman Mushir al-Masri said that Israel’s arrest of Palestinian ministers and parliament members from the Hamas was “a grave precedent, an international crime and an open declaration of war against the Palestinian people.”
In an interview for Al-Jazeera, al-Masri said, “This goes against all human moral and democratic values, and hurts the will of our people. The international community must have its say.”
Security establishment sources confirmed that a wide-scale operation against Hamas members is being carried out.
Leading Hamas members in Gaza went into hiding after hearing of the West Bank arrests.
Half of them were arrested. Hamas government members (Photo: AP)
A senior al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades member told Ynet in response that the wave of arrests will lead all Palestinian organizations to resume their policy of terror attacks against Israel.
“I condemn the arrests of our Hamas brethren,” he said. “We warn the Israelis that these arrests are opening the door for a bloody battle. We will not accept any harm done to our Hamas brothers. This operation jeopardizes the life of the kidnapped Israeli soldier (Gilad Shalit)."
Palestinian sources said IDF forces surrounded a Ramallah building in which all Hamas parliament members, including Parliament Speaker Abdel Aziz Dweik, were convening and called on the lawmakers to give themselves up. Forces also encircled the Ramallah homes of senior Hamas council members, including that of Parliament Secretary Mahmoud Al-Ramahi.
Palestinian sources added that Israeli forces have also detained senior Fatah member Nazia Safi, a Preventive Security Force officer.
Navy opens fire at Qassam launching pads
Palestinian sources said the IDF also apprehended top Hamas officials in other West Bank towns: Two parliament members were detained in Bethlehem, six senior group members were arrested in Jenin and several others, including Minister for Wakf Affairs Nayef Rajoub, were caught in the Hebron area. The Hamas-appointed mayor of Qalqilya, who was released from an Israeli prison last month, was also apprehended along with his deputy.
Earlier Palestinian Labor Minister Muhammad Barghouti was arrested north of Ramallah; according to reports, army jeeps pulled over Barghouti’s car, ordered him to step out and detained him. IDF forces also arrested Waal el-Husseini, a Hamas Legislative Council member from the Jerusalem area.
Hamas officials expressed fears that the detained officials will be used as bargaining chips in a deal involving the release of kidnapped soldier Shalit, who is being held by Hamas.
Palestinian security prisoners in the Ofer Prison near Ramallah told Ynet Thursday that prison authorities transferred no less than 100 prisoners to other facilities prior to the IDF operation, apparently to make room for the detained Hamas officials.
Sources reported of IDF attacks on Hamas infrastructures in Gaza, including a warehouse used for the manufacturing and storage of arms. The army later attacked another such warehouse belonging to Fatah’s military wing, the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades.
Also on Thursday, Navy vessels opened fire at Qassam rocket launching pads in north Gaza, while Palestinian gunmen responded by firing a rocket toward the western Negev. According to the IDF, the rocket landed near the Gaza security fence; no injuries were reported,
Efrat Weiss contributed to the report