Israel army arrests 5 Hamas members

Israel's army early Wednesday arrested five members of the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, including a member of parliament, a prisoners' support group said. The five were arrested at dawn at their homes in the southern West Bank city of Hebron, the Ramallah-based Prisoners' Club told AFP. They included Hamas MP Mohammed Jamal al-Natshe, it said. An Israeli army spokeswoman said "six people were arrested and taken for security questioning," but gave no further details. The army later on Wednesday released another Hamas MP, Nayef al-Rujub, who had been in prison for two and a half years, the Prisoners' Club said in a statement. The Israeli army had yet to confirm the release. Israel has stepped up arrests of Hamas members in the West Bank, in the face of a rising tide of low-intensity conflict and civil unrest. There are currently 13 Palestinian lawmakers in Israeli jails, including Natshe. Hamas has 74 members in the 132-seat Palestinian Legislative Council.