Israeli military forces, on Saturday conducted a raid on the West Bank residence of a senior Hamas leader, Saleh al-Aruri, detaining several of his family members, eyewitnesses said.
Al-Aruri serves as the deputy to Hamas’ overall leader, Ismail Haniyeh, and is known as one of the founding members of the group’s military wing.
This operation was in response to the October 7 attacks when Hamas militants from Gaza infiltrated southern Israel, resulting in casualties and hostage-taking, as reported by Israeli officials.
Since then, there has been an ongoing conflict in which a significant number of Palestinians, mostly civilians, have lost their lives due to Israeli airstrikes, according to Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry.
Troops entered Aruri’s home in Arura village, some 20 kilometres (12 miles) north of Ramallah, at dawn on Saturday, arresting more than 20 people, including one of his brothers and nine of his nephews, mayor Ali al-Khasib and witnesses told AFP.
Numerous others were taken in for questioning.
Outside the house, soldiers displayed a banner with Saleh Aruri’s image and an Israeli flag, featuring the text: “This was the house of Saleh Aruri and has now become the headquarters of Abu al-Nimer — Israeli intelligence.” This message was widely shared online, a witness said.
Village residents said Abu al-Nimer was an alias for the Israeli intelligence officer responsible for the area.
The Israeli military released a statement indicating that the raid was carried out in conjunction with the Shin Bet internal security service and resulted in the arrest of “dozens of Hamas members,” including individuals with familial ties to Aruri.
They confirmed the use of the house for detaining and questioning activists.
Israel has accused Aruri, who was named Haniyeh’s deputy in 2017, of organising several attacks.
He spent almost 20 years in Israeli prisons and was freed in 2010 on condition that he go into exile.
AFP