Israel rounded up a Palestinian Cabinet minister and 32 other Hamas leaders in the West Bank before dawn Thursday, trying a new tactic in its campaign to pressure the Islamic militant group into halting rocket barrages from the Gaza Strip.
Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas called for a halt to rocket fire and a truce with Israel on Thursday after the army seized 33 senior Hamas figures in the latest crackdown against the Islamist group.
Israeli forces seized a Palestinian minister and other officials on Thursday in a crackdown on Hamas, which defied a call by President Mahmoud Abbas to stop firing rockets at Israel.
Iran's hard-line president warned Israel on Thursday that nations in the region would take action against the Jewish state if it attacked Lebanon in the summer.
Gaza sites pounded following roundup of officials in W. Bank JERUSALEM — Israel arrested a Palestinian Cabinet minister along with several legislators and mayors in a predawn roundup of more than 30 Hamas officials in the West Bank on Thursday, stepping up pressure on the group to halt rocket attacks from the Gaza Strip.
Iran's hard-line President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Thursday warned Israel it would be uprooted if the Jewish state attacked Lebanon in the coming summer.
As Palestinian rocket attacks continue, Israel started arresting Hamas officials and began a crackdown on the group's financial institutions.
Israel also mounted new air attacks in Gaza today as part of its efforts to stop rocket fire by Palestinian militants.
Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas called for a halt to rocket fire and a truce with Israel on Thursday after the army seized 33 senior Hamas figures in latest crackdown aimed at stopping the Gaza salvos.
Israel stepped up its offensive against the Islamist group Hamas, in response to continued rocket fire from Gaza. The Israeli military has launched more airstrikes against targets in Gaza, and arrested Hamas members in the West Bank. Some Hamas leaders are calling for renewed suicide attacks on Israel.