Israeli forces arrest Hamas lawmaker in West Bank

By Kaamil Ahmed

JERUSALEM

Israeli forces arrested a Hamas-affiliated Palestinian lawmaker during early morning raids in the occupied West Bank on Tuesday, his party said.

The Change and Reform party, which represents the Gaza-based Hamas movement, said in a statement Muhammad al-Tal was arrested from his home near the city of Hebron.

An Israeli military spokesperson told Anadolu Agency that 12 Palestinians were arrested for violence against Israeli soldiers and citizens and "violent rioting."

Three Hamas lawmakers were arrested by Israeli forces in the West Bank earlier this month.

According to the Palestinian Commission for Prisoners’ Affairs, the latest arrest brings the total number of Palestinian lawmakers now in Israeli custody to 11.

Israeli forces carry out almost nightly raids targeting “wanted” Palestinians in the occupied West Bank.

There are currently around 7,000 Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails, according to a January report by Palestinian prisoner rights groups.