By Xinhua,
Ramallah : Israeli forces arrested seven Palestinians in West Bank city of Nablus early on Tuesday, including prominent Hamas members.
According to local sources in the city, several army vehicles rolled into the city from its eastern side and deployed along the streets.
During the operation, the troops arrested Sheikh Abderrahim al-Hanbali, former head of Nablus alms committee linked to Hamas.
Meanwhile, the Israeli forces broke into the house of Kholoud al-Massri, a member of Nablus municipal council, and arrested the Hamas activist and her husband, the sources said.
A Hamas website reported that the Israeli army arrested its 24-year-old reporter in Nablus alongside his father. Another youth and a female social activist were also arrested in the city.
Last week, Israel launched a crackdown against Hamas institutions and charities in the West Bank, especially in Nablus city where several Hamas-lined organizations were closed.
Israel said the campaign is aimed at destroying the Islamic movement’s civil infrastructure in the West Bank.
Israel also carried out routine raids in the West Bank to detain Palestinians accused of participating in attacks against Israeli targets.
The army imposed curfew on Beit Fujar town near the holy city of Bethlehem on Tuesday and arrested three Palestinians, local media reported.
Hamas accused the caretaker Palestinian government and the security services of President Mahmoud Abbas of cooperating with Israel in its crackdown against Hamas.