Israel arrests senior Hamas commander in West Bank

Israeli soldiers arrest Imad Qawasmeh, a top military leader of the radical Palestinian Hamas movement, in the divided West Bank town of Hebron yesterday. Qawasmeh, 32, who has been held responsible by Israel for masterminding a double suicide bombing in the town of Beer Sheva in August, was arrested in Hebron. PHOTO: AFP

Imad Qawasmeh, 32, who has been held responsible by Israel for masterminding a double suicide bombing in the town of Beersheva in August, was arrested in the main southern West Bank town of Hebron, the sources said.

An army spokesman confirmed that "a senior wanted Hamas official" had been arrested in Hebron, without revealing his identity.

Witnesses said troops surrounded and partially destroyed the house in which Qawasmeh had been hiding in Hebron, summoning him through a hailspeaker to turn himself in.