Report: IDF arrests 7 Hamas men in West Bank
Residents of West Bank city of Nablus report IDF raid on city resulted arrest of two Hamas city councilmen, senior operative head of a local women's organization. Military confirms operation, refuses details
Israeli troops arrested seven Hamas figures Tuesday, including two municipal council members, in a widening crackdown on the Islamic militant group in Nablus, residents said.
The Israeli military confirmed that it arrested seven Palestinians in the city but did not elaborate.
Residents said troops seized the two Hamas city council members, a senior Hamas operative and other Palestinians known for their close ties to the group, including Hanin Darwazi, the head of a local women's organization.
Hamas, a militant Islamic group has a large, active women's section. But arrests of Hamas women are infrequent.
Tuesday's pre-dawn sweep followed the closure in Nablus last week by the Israeli military of a shopping mall, a TV station and a newspaper, all allegedly with ties to Hamas.
The raids have prompted complaints by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas that Israel was damaging his standing in the West Bank, where he governs. Hamas controls the Gaza Strip.
As he conducts peace talks with Israel, Abbas has deployed security forces throughout the West Bank to quell lawlessness and check the growth of Hamas and other militant groups.
Both Israel and the Abbas government fear Hamas could seize control of the West Bank, which lies next to Israel's populous center. Hamas fighters ousted Abbas loyalists from Gaza by force a year ago.
Palestinian security forces also have conducted their own crackdown on Hamas members throughout the West Bank.
