Israel arrests Hamas group for terrorist attack schemes

The Israeli Security Agency said on Tuesday that it has arrested members of a Hamas group in East Jerusalem over terrorist schemes, including attempts to murder Israeli politicians in early April.

"The suspects planned, among other things, to shoot at Israeli targets and public figures, including lawmaker Itamar Ben-Gvir, manufacture IEDs (improvised explosive devices) and abduct soldiers,'' the agency said in a statement.

The suspects were also accused of acquiring a drone in order to install explosives on it and use it to attack the Jerusalem light rail.

The Israeli State Attorney accused Rashid Rashak, a Hamas militant in East Jerusalem's Old City, and Mansur Tzafadi, a Hamas militant from the neighbourhood of Abu Tor, of leading the cell.

Shin Bet said Israeli security forces would continue to take determined action to deal with those involved in terrorism, especially in Jerusalem, to the fullest extent of the law.

Israel captured East Jerusalem and the rest of the West Bank in the 1967 Middle East war and annexed it shortly later, in a move not recognised by most of the international community.

The Palestinians wish to build the capital of their state in East Jerusalem.