Israel arrests Hamas official in West Bank

A large Israeli army contingent arrested Hamas official Sheikh Hassan Yousef this morning in the West Bank during a raid on his home in Beitunia. The raid also included the home of an individual suspected of carrying out a stabbing in occupied Jerusalem.

Yousef’s son, Owais, told alJazeera.net that at least five military patrol cars surrounded their home and arrested him in a quick operation in which dozens of soldiers participated.

Yousef, who is 61 years old and is a Hamas spokesman in the West Bank, was released last June after being held in an Israeli jail for about a year.

He has previously been arrested as part of a widespread arrest campaign which included dozens of Hamas officials and members after two of its members from Hebron were accused of kidnapping and killing three settlers in June 2014.

He was arrested after the Israeli Radio Station quoted Israeli figures making statements accusing the Hamas leadership in Gaza of giving their members in the West Bank instructions and orders to carry out commando operations against Israel.

Local sources in Beitunia also told alJazeera.net that the occupation forces raided the home of prisoner Younes Saleh Abu Zuweid, located in the southern area of the West Bank.

Israel accuses Zuweid of carrying out a stabbing operation which led to the wounding of an Israeli settler near Damascus Gate in occupied Jerusalem on 9 October.