NABLUS, West Bank, Sept. 21 (UPI) -- A senior Hamas leader was among 49 Palestinians arrested Friday in the West Bank city of Nablus by Israeli forces.
Niyad Shkirat was apprehended at the Beit Ilma refugee camp climaxing a military operation that lasted several days, Israel's Ynetnews reports.
During the operation gunmen opened fire on Israeli troops and hurled an explosive device at them, according to the news service.
"The activity of (Israeli) forces in Nablus thwarted a terror attack in the immediate future," said West Bank Brigade commander Col. Amir Baram.
Thursday night Israeli troops closed off the West Bank and Gaza in advance of Yom Kippur saying it will be reopened once the holy day observance is over.
Earlier Thursday an attack was foiled when Israeli forces arrested three people in Nablus who were allegedly planning a suicide attack in central Israel.
