Israeli army arrested on Tuesday a top Hamas militant leader in the West Bank city of Ramallah, Palestinian witnesses and security sources said.

Ibraheem Hamed, 41, top leader of Hamas' armed wing Izz Edeen al-Qassam Brigades in the West Bank, was arrested after Israeli soldiers surrounded his house near the residence of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas early Tuesday, security sources said.

Hamed was accused by Israel of masterminding a series of suicide attacks that killed about 80 Israelis and trying to produce makeshift rockets to be fired into West Bank settlements.

Israeli Internal Security Minister Avi Dichter praised the capture of Hamed, according to Israel Radio.

Dichter said that he personally has been overseen an almost 10- year chase after Hamed, since he took the head post of Israeli internal security service (Shin Bet).

Israeli Army Radio said that Israel has been trying to capture Hamed since 1998, when he was listed by Israel as one of the most- wanted terrorists.

Separately, Israeli army arrested 16 Palestinians, mostly students of al-Najah university in the West Bank city of Nablus, the security sources said.

The local witnesses said that the Israeli troops took away 15 students and another civilian after they surrounded a building in the city where tens of students live.

An Israeli army spokesman confirmed the detention of the students, and expected a soon release after a questioning.

Source: Xinhua