The IDF sent a message to the Hamas terror organization and arrested one of its top leaders as part of Israeli efforts to stem Palestinian incitement.
IDF forces arrested Hassan Yousef, a senior Hamas leader in Judea and Samaria, early Tuesday morning.
He was arrested in the village of Beitunia, near Ramallah. The Israeli forces did not face resistance.
Yousef, 60, was arrested for his intensive involvement in incitement to terrorism. He has been in and out of the Israeli prison system over the past decades, and is a main instigating element who incites to violence against Israel among the Palestinians, the IDF stated.
He was turned over to the Shin Bet (Israel’s Security Agency) for questioning.
“The IDF and [Israeli] security services will continue to take all measures required to safeguard the security of Israel’s citizens and to operate against terror organization in Judea and Samaria,” the IDF stated.
“Hamas’ leaders cannot expect to propagate violence and terror from the comfort of their living-rooms and pulpits of their mosques. When you encourage, promote and praise the death the innocent the IDF will act swiftly in order to contain the hateful incitement that jeopardizes the safety and wellbeing of so many Israelis and Palestinians alike,” IDF Spokesman Lt. Col. Peter Lerner stated.
The latest wave of Palestinian violence against Israeli civilians began on September 14th, and has been ongoing since.
Israeli casualties include nine murdered and 75 injured in 41 terror attacks in the past month.
The terror attacks include 34 stabbings, four shootings and three car rammings.
Yousef’s son, Mosab Yousef, code-named the “Green Prince,” was an Israeli asset working for the Shin Bet within the terror organization for a decade and helped sabotage dozens of terrorist attacks. He subsequently fled to the US, where he advocates against Islamic extremism, violence and terror.
By: Max Gelber, United with Israel
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