Palestinian sources say a large party searched Mahmoud al-Ramahi's home overnight; same official was released from prison last year.
By JPOST.COM STAFFHamas police cadets Gaza 311 AP(photo credit: Associated Press)
The IDF arrested top Hamas official Mahmoud al-Ramahi in Ramallah overnight Tuesday. The IDF said in a statement that the suspect had been involved in recent Hamas activity, but have no further information.Ramahi is the Hamas general secretary and Ramallah representative in the Palestinian parliament.RELATED:Hamas ratchets up rhetoric against Israel - and PAHamas insulted by German FM refusal to meet leaders in GazaHe was previously arrested four years ago and was released last year from an Israeli prison as part of a Gilad Schalit deal.According to Al-Jazeera, Hamas legislator Mona Mansour received a call from Ramahi as the IDF entered his home. He told her he was being arrested."Then the phone call disconnected and no one knows where he was taken to," she said.Ramahi was among dozens of Hamas lawmakers and Cabinet ministers arrested in 2006 after Hamas-linked Palestinian militants captured an Israeli soldier. He was released in 2009.Ahmed Bahar of Hamas, deputy parliament speaker, called the arrest "part of the comprehensive, systematic war against our homeland."IDF forces also arrested 11 wanted Palestinians in the Judea and Samaria region overnight Tuesday. The suspects were transferred to security forces for questioning.AP contributed to this report.
