Israeli forces arrest 13 Hamas commanders

Israel dealt a severe blow to Hamas in the PA-administered territories by arresting 13 field commanders. 

Israeli forces carried out a major counter-terrorism operation on Sunday night in the Binyamin region of Judea and Samaria, arresting 13 Hamas regional commanders.

One of the suspects arrested is a member of the Palestinian Authority’s Legislative Council.

Operating with the Shin Bet (Israel’s Security Agency), the IDF said it dealt a severe blow to Hamas’ infrastructure in the area.

The forces also seized funds, a vehicle and incitement and propaganda materials.

The Shin Bet stated that in recent weeks it had exposed a broad Hams terror infrastructure that operated in the Ramallah area and which served as a regional commanding unit.

The unit, which commanded dozens of Hamas operatives, operated to deepen Hamas’ hold on the area and expand its influence.

The unit operated among students, paid stipends to families of convicted terrorists serving time on Israeli jails, and financed and promoted public action on Hamas’ behalf, including mass rallies.

The commanding unit was financed by Hamas from Gaza and from abroad, the Shin Bet stated.

“The exposure of the infrastructure is indicative of Hamas’ ongoing strategic plans to expand its presence in the area while attempting to bring down the Palestinian Authority (PA), and this while operating to execute terror attacks [against Israelis],” the statement read.

The Shin Bet and IDF vowed to continue with their counter-terrorism operations.

By: Aryeh Savir, World Israel News