Israeli forces raid West Bank home of senior Hamas leader
Israeli troops conducted a raid on the West Bank home of a senior Hamas leader, Saleh al-Aruri, who serves as the deputy to Hamas’ overall leader, Ismail Haniyeh, and is one of the founders of the group’s military wing.
This move followed the October 7 attacks when Hamas militants from Gaza infiltrated southern Israel, resulting in casualties and hostages, according to Israeli officials.
Subsequently, there have been extensive Israeli airstrikes in Gaza, leading to the deaths of over 4,300 Palestinians, primarily civilians, according to Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry.
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On Saturday, Israeli troops entered Aruri’s home in Arura village, situated about 20 kilometers north of Ramallah.
They arrested more than 20 people, including one of his brothers and nine nephews. Dozens more individuals were brought in for questioning.
Outside the house, Israeli troops displayed a banner of Saleh Aruri alongside an Israeli flag, reading: “This was the house of Saleh Aruri and has become the headquarters of Abu al-Nimer — Israeli intelligence”, according to witnesses.
Village residents identified Abu al-Nimer as an alias for the Israeli intelligence officer responsible for the area.
In a statement, the Israeli army confirmed that the raid was conducted in coordination with the Shin Bet internal security service and resulted in the arrests of “dozens of Hamas members,” including relatives of Aruri.
They acknowledged using the house “for the detention and questioning of activists.”
Saleh Aruri, who assumed the role of Haniyeh’s deputy in 2017, has been accused by Israel of organizing multiple attacks. He had previously spent nearly 20 years in Israeli prisons and was released in 2010 on the condition that he go into exile.
Since the outbreak of the Gaza conflict, there have been numerous incidents resulting in fatalities involving Israeli forces in the occupied West Bank.
