RAMALLAH, West Bank, April 15 (UPI) -- Israeli security services arrested 29 Hamas members in an overnight raid Tuesday in the West Bank city of Nablus.
According to the Israeli Security Agency (Shin Bet), the joint operation with Israeli Defense Forces and Israeli police targeted Hamas operatives "with funding and guidance from Hamas headquarters outside the country."
The arrested suspects reportedly include high-ranking Hamas members and former detainees. They have been taken to Shin Bet for questioning.
Hamas condemned the Tuesday night arrests, describing them as "abductions" and claimed those taken in the raids included minors.
The mass arrest, Israeli security services explained, was in response to increased Hamas activity in the area.
The Israeli Defense Forces revealed Wednesday that a Hamas terror cell was arrested in March for plotting an attack "against Israeli civilians during the Jewish holiday of Purim." Purim was celebrated March 4 and 5 this year.
