The detained Hamas top officials that Israel Defense Forces (IDF) arrested during raids in the West Bank early Thursday morning were to be questioned by security forces, the army told Xinhua.

"These Hamas officials exploit their positions in the ( Palestinian) government in order to encourage and support terror activities," an IDF spokeswoman said.

In response to rocket fire from the Gaza Strip on Israeli border towns, IDF troops conducted a large-scale arrest operation against senior members of Hamas in the West Bank on Thursday morning, detaining 33 Hamas officials including a minister, four mayors and municipality heads as well as three lawmakers.

Palestinian Education Minister Nasser al-Deen Shaer, Hamed al- Bitawi, a member of the Palestinian legislative council and Adly Yaish, mayor of Nablus on behalf of Hamas were among the detainees.

Meanwhile, similar arrests were made in other West Bank cities. In Qalqiliya forces arrested Mayor Wajih Quawas and in the village of Beita, adjacent to Nablus, they arrested Muarab el-Shurfa, who heads the local municipality.

Israeli army geared up operations in the Palestinian territories after a rocket attack in the southern Israeli town of Sderot killed a 32-year-old Israeli woman and injured two others.

Last time Israel carried out such an operation was following the abduction of IDF soldier Gilad Shalit in June 2006. Much of Hamas' leadership was arrested by the IDF after Shalit's abduction and some are still imprisoned.

The Israeli government has authorized the IDF to step up measures against the militant groups launching Qassams, including possible strikes against Hamas and Islamic Jihad leaders. More than 40 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli air strikes in the past week.

Source: Xinhua