Israeli security forces, in a raid in the West Bank conducted on Thursday, announced the arrest of Hamas spokesperson Hassan Youssef, according to a statement from the Israeli General Security Service on Friday.
Media reports suggest that Youssef was apprehended due to suspected involvement in activities benefiting Hamas.
The Israeli Border Police had reported on Thursday evening that one of its members was killed in an explosion caused by an improvised explosive device in the occupied West Bank’s Nour Shams refugee camp.
The Israeli Army Radio stated that “Major Maxim Razinkov, a reserve fighter in the Border Police undercover unit, was killed in an explosion from an explosive device in Tulkarm.”
In a related context, the Israeli newspaper “Yedioth Ahronoth” reported that “Razinkov was killed during a joint operation conducted this morning in the Nour Shams camp near Tulkarm, involving elements from the military and ‘Yamam’ (Special Unit), during a gun battle with Palestinian gunmen.” It added that “explosives were thrown at the Israeli force.”
These developments in the West Bank come amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestinian factions in Gaza, now in its 14th day.
It is worth noting that the Palestinian movement Hamas launched the “Operation Aqsa Tempest” on October 7th to put an end to “Israeli violations,” resulting in the deaths of nearly 1,400 people on the Israeli side and the injury of thousands. In response, Israel declared war and initiated a military operation named “Operation Iron Swords,” which included intense airstrikes and attacks on Gaza, resulting in the deaths of approximately 3,800 Palestinians and the injury of around 12,500 others.
