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Israel arrests 80 Hamas leaders in the West Bank

June 15, 2014 at 1:13 pm

The Israeli army arrested 80 Hamas leaders in the West Bank Sunday morning, the Israeli Channel 7 reported.

According to the Israeli army’s radio channel, the army rounded up senior leaders of Hamas and the Islamic Jihad early today. The arrests came against the backdrop of the disappearance of three Israeli settlers from Hebron last Thursday. Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu blamed an unnamed “terrorist group” for their disappearance.

The channel pointed out that the crackdown will continue against Hamas activists in the entire West Bank.

Hamas sources told Anadolu news agency that the arrests targeted at least 75 leaders, including Hassan Youssef, as well as ex-ministers, MPs, and freed prisoners.