Israeli forces arrest Hamas leader in West Bank

Al-Taweel was elected as a mayor of Al-Bireh in 2006

Israeli forces arrest Hamas leader in West Bank

RAMALLAH, Palestine

Israeli forces detained a Hamas leader in the West Bank town of Al-Bireh on Sunday, according to local residents.  

Israeli soldiers raided and searched the house of Jamal al-Taweel in Umm al-Sharayit neighborhood before taking him into custody, the residents said.  

The Israeli army has yet to confirm the arrest.  

Al-Taweel was elected as a mayor of Al-Bireh in 2006.  

On an almost daily basis, Israeli forces carry out night-time raids in the occupied West Bank that allegedly target "wanted" Palestinians.  

Around 6,500 Palestinians are currently languishing in Israeli jails, according to a January report released by Palestinian prisoner rights groups.