Hamas, the Palestinian militant and political organization, is making news again as a prominent member of their organization has been reportedly detained by Israeli authorities. According to reports, Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qasim has been arrested.
Qasim’s arrest follows a series of detainees taken from the occupied West Bank by Israeli authorities in recent months. These raids have been claimed to be part of a security crackdown to end clashes and unrest throughout the region since the U.S. declaration to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.
The Palestinian Authority has been opposed to the U.S. recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. Israeli authorities claim that the cause of unrest and the clashes have been sparked by Hamas, however the organization has denied those claims and accused Israeli forces of fueling and escalating the violence.
Hamas is known to oppose the existence of Israel and in the past has proposed a two-state solution to the conflict and conducted diplomatic efforts to that end. This latest incident is more likely than not to inflame the already tense relationship between Hamas and Israeli authorities.
Qasim’s arrest follows the detainment of several high-ranking officials including Mahmoud al-Aloul, the deputy leader of Fatah, and Jawad Abu Hatab, the Palestinian prime minister.
It remains unclear how this latest incident will escalate the conflict between the two sides. Reports are still coming in but it is certain that Qasim’s arrest is a sign of things to come.
