Israelis capture Hamas leader

Israeli forces have captured a top West Bank leader of the militant Islamic Hamas group, said by the army to have planned and ordered a string of suicide bombings which killed 55 Israelis.

The military said troops who entered the town of Ramallah early today captured Ibrahim Hammad, 41, West Bank head of the Hamas’ armed wing in the West Bank and the man behind fatal attacks at cafés and at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem.

Palestinian security officials said Hammad surrendered without a fight after Israeli forces surrounded his home – 200 yards from the Ramallah residence of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas – shortly after dawn. Abbas was on a visit to Jordan at the time.

The Palestinian officials said the Israelis ordered Hammad to strip before leading him away, apparently suspecting he might have weapons or explosives concealed in his clothing.

Israeli Army Radio said Israel had been trying to catch Hammad for eight years.