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Israel’s internal security agency, Shin Bet, said Wednesday that a three-member Hamas cell was arrested in the occupied West Bank for allegedly plotting attacks.
In a statement, Shin Bet said Issa Shaladeh, 21, and Omar Mas’ud, 20, had been detained on suspicion of being recruited by the Qassam Brigades, Hamas’ armed wing.
It claimed that the pair had planned to carry out attacks against Israelis and to aid in the transfer of funds to the Palestinian group.
A third Palestinian, who was identified as 24-year-old Hazem Hamayel, a resident of the northern West Bank, was also arrested for allegedly contacting a Hamas official in Gaza “to organize terror attacks in Israel”, the statement said.
There was no comment from Hamas, which rules the Gaza Strip, on the Israeli claim.
Every now and then, Israeli authorities announce the arrest of Hamas-linked cells for alleged attack plot against Israeli targets in the West Bank.
Israel designates Hamas as a “terrorist” group and has imposed a crippling blockade on Gaza since the Palestinian group seized control of the seaside enclave in 2007.
Seven Palestinians were arrested in overnight raids carried out across the West Bank, according to the Israeli military.The individuals were arrested for “suspected involvement in popular terrorist activities”, the army said in a Wednesday statement without elaborating on the nature of the activities.The detainees have since been remanded into custody for further investigation, the statement added.The Israeli army frequently carries out sweeping arrest campaigns across the occupied West Bank on the pretext of searching for “wanted” Palestinians.According to Palestinian figures, approximately 6,500 Palestinians are currently languishing in Israeli prisons, including scores of women and some 350 minors.Palestinians appeal to Merkel to save Bedouin hamletIsraeli PM to be grilled on graft allegations on Friday
Israel detains 7 Palestinians in West Bank raids
Palestinians have appealed to German Chancellor Angela Merkel to intervene to save the Bedouin community of Khan al-Ahmar, which is at the risk of demolition by Israeli authorities.Merkel is scheduled to arrive in Israel later Wednesday for a two-day visit during which she will hold talks with Israeli officials on relations between the two countries.She will meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Reuven Rivlin before attending a round-table discussion between German and Israeli officials.Merkel, however, will not visit Ramallah or meet Palestinian officials during her visit.Israel slowly encroaching all of Jerusalem“The European Union has warned against the consequences of tearing down the village and Merkel should send a clear message to Israeli officials that the demolition of Khan al-Ahmar would expose Israel to accountability,” prominent Palestinian activist Mustafa Barghouthi told Anadolu Agency.He called on the German Chancellor to stand against Israel's “ethnic cleansing policy” against the Palestinians in general and Khan al-Ahmar residents in particular.According to Israeli daily Haaretz, Merkel is expected to raise the issue of Khan al-Ahmar demolition during her talks with Israeli officials.The newspaper said that the hamlet will not be demolished during Merkel’s visit due to “diplomatic sensitivities”.Gaza bids farewell to 12-year-old martyrHaaretz said ahead of Merkel’s visit, members of Israeli and German opposition parties met and formulated a joint statement calling for “ending the occupation and stopping the demolition of Khan al-Ahmar.” The meeting was led by Knesset member Mossi Raz of the left- wing Meretz party and German lawmaker Omid Nouripour.“The evacuation of Khan al-Ahmar is a war crime that contravenes international law. I hope the international community will mobilize to help stop the demolition of the community and put pressure on the Israeli government,” Raz told Haaretz.On Tuesday, Palestinians demonstrated against the demolition, with many waving Merkel’s pictures amid calls for her to stop the demolition plans.Palestinian students protest Israeli law amid clashesOn Sept. 5, the Israeli Supreme Court ruled to demolish Khan al-Ahmar and evict the village’s Bedouin inhabitants.Israel plans to expel some 10,000 Bedouin residents of what is known as the E1 Zone, which sits on 15 square kilometers (5.8 square miles) of land in East Jerusalem, to make way for housing units linking Jerusalem to the Ma'ale Adumim settlement.If implemented, the plan would effectively cut the West Bank in two, preempting the possibility of a Palestinian state based on pre-1967 borders.In early July, Israeli bulldozers destroyed a number of tents and other structures in Khan al-Ahmar, sparking clashes with local residents.There are 46 Bedouin communities -- inhabited by some 3,000 residents -- scattered across Israeli-occupied East Jerusalem.Under the 1995 Oslo agreement between Israel and the Palestinian Authority (PA), the West Bank -- including East Jerusalem -- was divided into Areas A, B and C.Area A falls under the administrative and security control of the PA; Area B falls under the administrative control of the PA and the security control of Israel; and Area C -- in which Khan al-Ahmar is located -- falls under the administrative and security control of Israel.
Palestinians appeal to Merkel to save Bedouin hamlet
Israeli police will question Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday on corruption suspicions, according to Israeli media.Investigators will grill Netanyahu on suspicions that he awarded favors to Israel’s telecom company Bezeq Telecom in return for favorable coverage on the company’s news site, according to Israeli Channel Two on Wednesday.Netanyahu was quizzed by investigators for four hours in August over the same case.Netanyahu has been the subject of criminal investigations in separate corruption cases. He has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing.In February, Israeli police recommended that Netanyahu be indicted for alleged corruption, saying there was now sufficient evidence to formally charge him in two separate graft cases.The first case involves Israeli Hollywood producer Arnon Milchan, who was allegedly asked to purchase luxury items for Netanyahu and his wife.The second relates to an alleged deal -- again for favorable media coverage -- with Arnon Mozes, publisher of Hebrew-language daily Yedioth Ahronoth.
Israeli PM to be grilled on graft allegations on Friday
The holy city of Jerusalem, which Salahuddin al-Ayyubi salvaged from the invasion of the Crusaders 831 years ago, is falling completely into Israel's hands as a result of persistent judaization policies.Jerusalem, one of the oldest cities in history, has great importance for all three Abrahamic religions.It was first conquered in 638 by the second Muslim caliph, Umar bin al-Khattab. It was invaded by the Crusaders in 1099.Jerusalem encompassing the first qibla of Muslims, Masjid al-Aqsa, was reconquered by Ayyubi in 1187.Israel denies mediation on Hamas prisoner swap dealExcept for an 11-year occupation, the city remained under the control of Muslims until 1917 after Ayyubi's conquest.After the British invaded Jerusalem on Dec. 9, 1917, which till then had been under the control of the Ottoman Empire for 400 years, they turned a blind eye to Jewish settlements in the region.The Jewish population in the historic Palestinian territory in 1917 is said to be around 60,000.It ballooned to 800,000 in 1948, when Israel declared its independence.US enforces $38bln military aid package to help Israel fight ‘Iran-sponsored terrorists’According to the Palestinian sources, the Jewish population in Jerusalem in 1922 was approximately 34,000 while the Arab population was about 28,000.In 1946, the Jewish population in the city rose to 99,000 while the number of Palestinian Arabs remained 65,000.Israel declared it independence on May 14, 1948 whereas Arab countries including Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria waged a war against Israel on May 15, 1948.Israel, which won the war, began to implement its plan for judaizing the city by invading West Jerusalem.Israel arrests 21 Palestinians in West Bank raidsAfter the 1948 war, Israel invaded East Jerusalem and the West Bank during the six-day war in 1967.Israel declared the entire Jerusalem as its capital in July 3, 1980.In Dec. 6, 2017, U.S. President Donald Trump unilaterally recognized Jerusalem as "Israel's capital."The U.S. relocated its embassy to Jerusalem on May 14, 2018.Israel, which has built 19 illegal settlements in East Jerusalem since 1968, placed more than 200,000 Jews in these places.As of today, there are 316,000 Palestinians living in the city, which has a population of 850,000. The remaining people are Jews.The Israeli authorities are expanding Jewish settlements and also prevent Arab population in the city from building new houses.
Israel slowly encroaching all of Jerusalem