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Shaer was abducted from his home by Israeli forces |
NABLUS — While continuing to strike Gaza, Israeli occupation forces detained on Thursday, May 24, Palestinian Education Minister Naser al-Din al-Shaer and 32 other senior officials, including two lawmakers, in the occupied West Bank.
"Five army jeeps arrived and asked for him," Hoda, Shaer's wife, told the Doha-based Al-Jazeera news channel.
"He identified himself but they said they had orders to take him into custody," she added.
Shaer was captured last August during an Israeli sweep in Gaza but was released a month at the orders of a military judge.
Israeli occupation forces also detained former cabinet minister Abdel Rahman Zeidan and MPs Hamed Bitawi and Daoud Abu Ser.
The mayors of the West Bank towns of Nablus, Qalqiliya and Beita as well as the head of the main Islamic charity in Nablus were also taken into Israeli custody.
The Israeli troops also stormed the house of MP Ahmed Haj Ali in Nablus but he was not home at the time.
The Israeli army said that 33 people had been detained across the West Bank and taken for questioning.
Israeli Defense Minister Amir Peretz said detaining government ministers and official was "a message to armed wings of terrorist organizations to stop their rocket fire."
Last year, Israeli forces abducted a third of the Palestinian government and 23 MPs during a wide-scale offensive in Gaza on the pretext of seeking the release of a soldier taken prisoner by Palestinian groups.
Violation
The Israeli move sparked an outcry.
"The Israeli practices would not weaken the Palestinians from pursuing resistance," Hamas, the main partner in the national unity government, said in a statement obtained by IslamOnline.net.
This came as Israeli warplanes continued to strike the Gaza Strip.
Israeli planes attacked a car carrying Hamas members in Gaza overnight.
Two Palestinian by-passers were injured when an Israeli helicopter fired at a car carrying Hamas members in Gaza overnight.
The car occupants escaped unharmed, witnesses said.
Israeli strikes also targeted two Palestinian money exchange offices in the strip, said security sources.
The Israeli army claimed the strikes targeted Hamas's financial network in the coastal strip.
Israeli strikes over the last eight days have killed at least 35 Palestinians.
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