Israel conducted overnight raids throughout the West Bank, the Israeli-occupied Palestinian area, and arrested more than 60 members of the terrorist group Hamas, including its spokesperson.
The Palestinian Ministry of Health also reported on Thursday, October 19, that many Palestinians were killed in a continuing Israeli military operation in the Nour Shams refugee camp in the West Bank city of Tulkarem.
Hamas Spokesman Detained
Hassan Yousef, the spokesperson, was arrested Friday, October 20, "on suspicion of acting on behalf of Hamas," according to CNN. This information was provided by the Israel Security Agency Shin Bet.
The Palestinian Prisoners Club, a non-governmental organization (NGO) that advocates for Palestinian inmates, confirmed that Yousef was arrested in his house in Beitunia.
Yousef is a prominent Palestinian political figure and the main Hamas spokesman in the West Bank. He has spent the better part of the last 24 years behind bars in Israel, having been imprisoned many times on accusations including incitement, illegal entry into Jerusalem, and Hamas involvement.
He often gives interviews to foreign media outlets. Earlier, he told Canada's The Globe and Mail that he believed Hamas would be willing to release its estimated 200 prisoners if Israel agreed to a 24-hour truce to allow supplies into Gaza.
A Large-Scale Operation?
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have confirmed that an operation was conducted.
Overnight, IDF said there was a massive counterterrorism operation in Judea and Samaria (Jewish designations for the West Bank) that led to the capture of nearly 80 wanted people, including 63 Hamas terrorist members.
Since Hamas' horrific attack inside Israel on October 7, the Palestinian Prisoners Club reports that a total of 850 Palestinians have been jailed in the West Bank. Legislators, public leaders, journalists, and those who were previously imprisoned for long periods of time in Israel are all said to be among them.
Palestinian National Initiative General Secretary Mustafa Barghouti told CNN that Israel is conducting a large-scale operation to detain Palestinians.
"Every night, they are conducting more and more arrests. The number of Palestinian prisoners now in Israeli jails is up to 6,300. They're not charged, they're not taken to court. [There are] no due legal process and that's what they call administrative detention, including no less than 200 children who are now in Israeli jails," Barghouti stated.
Amid Gaza Conflict
The Israeli raid follows growing West Bank involvement in the battle in Gaza.
Reportedly, many Palestinians were killed by Israeli soldiers' gunfire in the West Bank on Thursday. The ministry confirmed the deaths of six individuals and said that the death toll was expected to grow further. There have been reports of clashes between Palestinians and Israeli forces in many different areas.
The Palestinian Red Crescent Society said that its workers were attempting to reach the wounded in Nour Shams but that there were obstacles as ambulances carrying injured persons were being held by Israeli troops.
