HEBRON, West Bank (AFP) - Israeli troops nabbed a military chief of the Palestinian radical group Hamas accused of masterminding a string of deadly anti-Israeli attacks, Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz revealed.
"The head of Hamas in Hebron, Imad Qawasmeh, was arrested in the course of a joint operation by the army and Shin Beth," Israel's internal security services, Mofaz said Wednesday.
"He is a murderer whose hands are stained with the blood of many Israelis," he said.
"I hope his capture will deal a blow to Hamas' infrastructure in Hebron and reduce (anti-Israeli) attacks stemming from that area."
Imad Qawasmeh, 32, held responsible by Israel for a double suicide bombing in the town of Beersheva in August, was arrested in the main southern West Bank town of Hebron, Palestinian witnesses and Israeli radio said earlier.
The witnesses said troops surrounded and partially destroyed the house in which Qawasmeh had been hiding in Hebron, summoning him through a hailspeaker to turn himself in.
Qawasmeh came out barechested, his hands up in the air. He walked slowly towards the soldiers who were holding him at gunpoint until two of them pushed him to the ground and handcuffed him, they said.
Palestinian security sources said three of his brothers were arrested by the army several months ago.