During a raid executed by the occupation army in the early hours of yesterday morning in several cities of the West Bank, one third of the government members and 24 PLC members from Hamas were abducted, in addition to dozens of Hamas activists, some of whom assume leading positions in the municipalities. The unprecedented measures spurred a wave of anger and protest in the Palestinian street and posed a series of questions on the existence of the PA itself. A spokesperson for the Israeli army said the army arrested more than 64 senior officials in Hamas, including eight ministers who represent one third of the government headed by Hamas, and 22 PLC members. The spokesperson added that the Israeli Internal Security Apparatus "Shin Bet" questioned the Palestinian officials. She added there are no plans to release them immediately and the government wants to subject them to trial because of their involvement in "terrorist" activities. She said Israel wants to try the eight ministers and file charges against them for committing "terrorist" activities. She added that ministers and PLC members will appear before a judge as soon as possible and they are under questioning now by the security apparatuses and the Israeli police.

The abducted ministers from Hamas are:

1- Dr. Omar Abdul Razeq – Minister of Finance
2- Dr. Samir Abu Eisheh – Minister of Planning
3- Fakhri Turkman – Minister of Social Affairs
4- Nayef Rjoob – Minister of Waqf
5- Mohammed al-Barghouthi – Minister of Labor
6- Wasfi Kabaha – Minister of Prisoners Affairs
7- Issa al-Ja'bari – Minister of Local Government
8- Khaled Abu Arafeh – Minister for Jerusalem Affairs

The abducted PLC members from Hamas are:

1- Mohammed Abu Teir – Jerusalem
2- Mohammed Attoun – Jerusalem
3- Wael al-Husseini – Jerusalem
4- Mohammed Totah – Jerusalem
5- Ibrahim Abu Salem – Jerusalem
6- Imad Nofal – Qalqilia
7- Ibrahim Dahbour – Jenin
8- Khaled Yahia – Jenin
9- Khaled Suleiman – Jenin
10- Yasser Mansour – Nablus
11- Hosni al-Borini – Nablus
12- Naser Abdul Jawad – Salfeet
13- Abdul Jaber al-Fuqaha – Ramallah
14- Ali Romanin – Jericho
15- Anwar Zboun – Bethlehem
16- Mahmoud al-Khatib – Bethlehem
17- Samir al-Qadi – Hebron
18- Mohammed Mutlaq Abu Jheisheh – Hebron
19- Mohammed Maher Bader – Hebron
20- Fathi Qar'awi – Tulkarem

In addition to 4 other PLC members whose identities have not been confirmed yet. The occupation troops also abducted Mayor of Qalqilia Wajih Nazzal and his deputy Hisham al-Masri, and Mahdi Bushnaq and Majdi Abul Heija and Ibrahim Madi and Saleh Mahmoud.