Abu Tir
Abu TirMuammar Awad/Flash 90

The IDF arrested a Hamas member of the Palestinian parliament at his home near Ramallah overnight, the Palestinian Prisoners' Club said on Friday, according to AFP.

Muhammed Abu Tir, 65, was arrested only two months after he was released from a previous 17-month sentence, the group said.

Abu Tir is from eastern Jerusalem which he represents on the Palestinian Legislative Council.

The Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) described Abu Tir as one of the most senior Hamas operatives in Judea and Samaria, noting that he spent more than 33 years in Israeli prisons for "military and administrative terror activity".

He was arrested this time because of his "activity in Hamas operations and terror financing", a Shin Bet statement read.

Abu Tir was previously arrested in 2016 before being released several months later. His long history of incarceration dates back to 1998.

In June of 2006 he was arrested by Israeli security forces together with tens of other Palestinian parliamentary members during Operation Summer Rains. He was released four years later in May of 2010.

Abu Tir, who is recognizable due to his orange beard, was previously sentenced to life in prison for his involvement in Hamas instigated terror activities and his membership in an organization that deal with illegal weapons smuggling.

His latest arrest brings to 13 the number of people from the 132-member Palestinian Legislative Council currently jailed by Israel, said the Palestinian rights group Addameer.

(Arutz Sheva’s North American desk is keeping you updated until the start of Shabbat in New York. The time posted automatically on all Arutz Sheva articles, however, is Israeli time.)