Al Qassam Martyrs' Brigade
Al Qassam Martyrs' BrigadeFlash 90

Israel arrested a terrorist from the Hamas organization in Hevron on Tuesday night.

The terrorist, Ayub al-Qawasmi, was arrested in a joint operation of the IDF and the Israel Security Agency (ISA).

Qawasmi, a member of Hamas’s Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade, had been high on Israel’s list of wanted terrorists for years. He was arrested by the Palestinian Authority’s security forces three years ago, but was released in recent weeks.

He was behind many deadly terror attacks during the Second Intifada, also known as the Oslo War, which began in 2000.

An Israeli military spokeswoman confirmed the arrest to the Bethlehem-based Ma’an news agency and said Qawasmi was transferred to police for questioning.

On Monday night, the Judea and Samaria District of the Israel Police, along with IDF and Border Police officers, arrested 14 Arabs on suspicions of rock-throwing, illegal weapons hoarding, drug-dealing, and carjacking.

Police investigations into recent carjacking incidents in the Shomron led the forces to arrest at least one suspect in Hawara. Another man was arrested along Route 443 in the Binyamin region after being found driving a stolen vehicle.

In two separate incidents, a man from Barta'a man and another from Bayt Sira were both arrested after having been found with hundreds of explosives and illegal firecrackers in their possession. 

Two others were arrested after being found carrying illegal firearms, both 9 mm pistols.

An investigation in Deir Abu Meshal led to the arrest of two additional men with shotguns; one of the detainees is also being held for questioning about throwing Molotov cocktails at Israeli vehicles.

Four additional suspects were arrested in Yatta, near Hevron, after being found with shotguns and hunting equipment, including a telescopic sight.