Israeli forces seize Hamas leaders

A Palestinian cabinet minister and 32 other officials have been seized by Israeli forces in the occupied West Bank.

Israel has also launched air strikes in the Gaza Strip, stepping up a campaign there against Hamas Islamists.

The arrests came after Hamas and other groups rebuffed Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas's call for a halt to rocket attacks by Gaza militants at Israeli towns.

Two months after they formed a unity government, Hamas and Abbas's secular Fatah faction remain at daggers drawn in a struggle for control.

Israeli troops entered the West Bank city of Nablus and took into custody Education Minister Naser al-Shaer of Hamas.

They also seized at least three Hamas lawmakers, the mayor and deputy mayor of Nablus and other Hamas officials in neighbouring towns and villages, Hamas officials said.

The Israeli army said in a statement that 33 people had been arrested across the West Bank and were taken for questioning.

Palestinian government spokesman Ghazi Hamad said the arrests displayed "a scale of escalation and Israeli arrogance" and called for those arrested to be released.

Mr Hamad said: "Through this ... aggression the Israeli government is once again pushing the region into a cycle of violence and it bears the full responsibility for the consequences resulting from such irresponsible actions."

The Israeli army said in a statement: "The Hamas terror organisation is currently involved in enhancing the terror infrastructure in the (West Bank) region, based on the model used in the Gaza Strip. The organisation exploits governmental institutions to encourage and support terrorist activity."

A similar operation last year against Hamas ministers and lawmakers in the West Bank sparked an international backlash.

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