Hamas fears Israel will deport its leaders
Hamas leaders are also concerned that Israel will launch a military campaign if the kidnapped boys are not found.
It was clear that Israel accusing Hamas of kidnapping the three teenagers in Hebron on June 12 would open a new page in the conflict between the two, even without Hamas claiming responsibility for the act.
Israelis made threats against Hamas and started a widespread arrest campaign netting more than 200 Hamas members, of different levels, in the West Bank. Those arrested include members of the Palestinian Legislative Council, former ministers, university professors, along with field operatives and more than 50 former Palestinian prisoners who were recently released in the prisoner exchange deal with Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit.
Among them are former ministers Wasfi Kabaha and Khaled Abu Arfa; deputies Ahmed al-Haj Ali, Hosni al-Borini, Abdul Rahman Zaidan, Fadl Hamdan, Mohammad Tawtah and Ibrahim Abu Salem; and many students and activists. The Israeli army published a video showing the arrest of Sheikh Hassan Youssef, a prominent Hamas leader.
For its part, Hamas “warned against this campaign because it crossed all red lines. It cannot be tolerated and will have serious and unlimited implications.”
