Israeli police break into Hamas campaign offices

Israeli police raided the Hamas group’s election offices in east Jerusalem today.

After a search of the main office, it will be closed to prevent Hamas from operating in Jerusalem, said police spokesman Shmuel Ben-Ruby.

Israel opposes the participation of Hamas, responsible for scores of deadly attacks on Israelis, in the Palestinian parliamentary elections on January 25.

Israel barred election activities of all militant groups in east Jerusalem.

Israel claims east Jerusalem as part of its capital, but the Palestinians want the area captured in the 1967 Middle East war to serve as their capital in a future Palestinian state.