Army arrests Hamas spokesperson in the West Bank

Israeli army arrested Hamas spokesperson Farahat Assad in the West Bank Tuesday while he was on his way home to the  Al Teera neighborhood near the West Bank city of Ramallah.

Local witnesses reported that Israeli soldiers posted at a temporary checkpoint, arrested Assad, and took him to unknown location.

The Israeli army had arrested at least 80 of Hamas officials including ministers, legislators, and mayors in a large-scale arrests raid in several areas in the west Bank earlier last week.

The Israeli government revoked Jerusalem residency right of four Hamas officials last week, three of which are members of the Palestinian Parliament and one Minister.

The four Hamas officials are Jerusalem residents and have Jerusalem registration documents.

Local observers say this is part of the policy to empty Jerusalem of its Palestinian residents to claim a Jewish majority in the holy city.