A Border Guard police force arrested Thursday at the Jenin refugee camp Kahled al-Haj, Hamas' leader in the area, along with his deputy.
Al-Haj was released from Israeli prison several months ago. A pistol was found at the house where the two were staying.
Palestinian eyewitnesses said that a special Border Guard force arrived in a civilian vehicle to the area of the house where al-Haj was staying and arrested him.
According to the witnesses, the troops pushed al-Haj into the car, and immediately after IDF jeeps arrived at the place to secure the arrest.
According to the report, the raid was carried out swiftly, and no clashes or fire exchanges developed at the scene.
Al-Haj, one of Hamas' prominent leaders in the West Bank, recently renewed his operations as the movement's leader in the Jenin area.
He is considered a man whom all factions respect, and has been involved in efforts to calm tensions between Hamas and Fatah members in the area in recent weeks.
Al-Haj is the most senior Hamas leader to be arrested by Israel since the arrest of Hamas ministers several months ago.
Jenin sources said that al-Haj was is no way connected to operations of Hamas' military wing.
Efrat Weiss contributed to the report
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