Skip to main content

Why Israel arrested Hamas-affiliated MPs in West Bank

This week Israel arrested Hamas member of parliament Samira Halaika in an attempt to pressure Hamas into a prisoner exchange deal.
HEBRON, WEST BANK - DECEMBER 13:  Israeli soldiers patrol the desert streets December 13, 2002 in the Palestinian town of Hebron, West Bank. The Israeli Army imposed a curfew all over Hebron, after Palestinian gunmen killed two Israel Defense Forces soldiers December 12 at a roadblock near the Tomb of the Patriarchs, a Jewish and Muslim holy site in the center of the West Bank city of Hebron. The two soldiers, Maor Kalfon, 19, a male, and  Cpl. Keren Yakobi, 19, a female, were part of a Military Police unit
Read in 

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) arrested on March 9 Samira Halaika, a Hamas delegate to the Palestinian parliament from the West Bank town of Hebron. Reports of her detention emerged only after the Hamas Change and Reform Party issued an announcement saying Israeli soldiers had raided her home in the early morning hours near Hebron, searched the premises and took her with them when they left.

On March 6, IDF troops raided the homes of and then arrested two other Hamas parliament delegates, Khaled Tafesh and Anwar Zboun, residents of the town of Bethlehem. The three joined a fourth Hamas member of parliament from the Ramallah area, Hussein Abu Kuweik, who was arrested in August 2016.

Access the Middle East news and analysis you can trust

Join our community of Middle East readers to experience all of Al-Monitor, including 24/7 news, analyses, memos, reports and newsletters.

Subscribe

Only $100 per year.