Israel arrests 3 more Hamas leaders in second overnight operation this week

Published October 31st, 2013 - 11:14 GMT

Hamas controls the Gaza strip, but many members of its leadership reside in the West Bank (Courtesy of the Telegraph)

Israel arrested three senior leaders of Hamas in the West Bank last night, according to Agency France-Presse.

Yesterday's overnight arrest represents the second time such an operation was carried out this week. On Monday, Israeli troops arrested 15 Hamas members, including two MPs, near Nablus, Tulkarem and Hebron.

The three Hamas members arrested in the second operation were identified as Jamal Tawil, Hussein Abu Kwayk and Faraj Romana. An Israeli army spokesman would not provide the names of the arrested to reporters Thursday.

Hamas has publicly condemned the two operations as an Israeli conspiracy coordinated with Washington and the Palestinian Authority and in connection with the peace talks currently underway. Hamas fully opposes the US-mediated negotiations.

Though Hamas leadership is largely concentrated in Gaza, many of its members reside in the West Bank, which is controlled by rival Fatah leadership under Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas.