RAMALLAH: Israeli soldiers have detained two sisters of Saleh Al-Aruri, the recently assassinated deputy chief of Hamas, according to Palestinian sources and the Israeli army. The detention of Dalal Al-Aruri, 52, and Fatima Al-Aruri, 47, in the occupied West Bank has raised tensions following the drone strike in Lebanon that killed Saleh Al-Aruri on January 2.
The Israeli army stated on Sunday that the two women were arrested for “inciting to terrorism against the state of Israel,” without providing further details. Awar Al-Aruri, the brother-in-law of the deceased Hamas leader, revealed that the detained women and other family members are now under “administrative detention.”
The Palestinian Prisoners’ Club, a campaign group, reported that the arrests occurred in separate locations near the city of Ramallah. The Israeli army had accused Saleh Al-Aruri of involvement in planning the October 7 attack in southern Israel by Hamas fighters from Gaza.
Israeli Forces Atrocities in Gaza
The ongoing Israeli military atrocities in Gaza has led to a large number of civilian casualties, with at least 23,843 people, mostly women and children, have been killed, according to the Gaza health ministry. The Palestinian Prisoners’ Club indicated that since the start of the Gaza war, 5,875 Palestinians have been detained in the West Bank, with 1,970 placed under administrative detention, allowing for prolonged detention without charge or trial.
Israel defends the use of administrative detention, stating its purpose is to gather evidence and prevent security offenses during the ongoing investigation.
