Last update - 09:43 29/06/2006

Hamas calls IDF arrests of 64 parliamentarians 'open war'

By Avi Issacharoff and Amos Harel, Haaretz Correspondents and News Agencies

Israel has expanded its military operation against the Hamas-led government in the Palestinian Authority by embarking on mass arrests of senior Hamas officials before dawn Thursday.

Israel Defense Forces troops launched early Thursday a major arrest operation against Hamas officials, detaining 64 of the ruling militant group's ministers and parliamentarians in the West Bank and 23 military operatives.

The arrests took place in Ramallah, Qalqilyah, Hebron, Jenin and East Jerusalem, according to Palestinian reports. Soldiers carried arrest warrants signed by judges that were issued following cooperative preparatory work by the state prosecution and police...
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/732528.html