RAMALLAH, Aug 19: Israel seized Palestinian Deputy Prime Minister Naser al-Shaer, a top official of the Hamas militant group, at his home in the occupied West Bank on Saturday.

Hours later, a Palestinian man killed an Israeli soldier near the West Bank city of Nablus and was then shot dead by troops, the army and medics said.

Israel has more than 20 Hamas lawmakers and several other ministers in custody since late June, after it launched an offensive in response to the kidnapping of a soldier in a cross-border raid from the Gaza Strip.

Violence has continued in the West Bank and Gaza Strip since war broke out with Hezbollah guerrillas on Israel’s northern border after two soldiers were abducted on July 12 in a cross-border raid.

An Israeli army spokesman confirmed troops had taken Al-Shaer into custody, saying it was ‘due to his membership in a terrorist organisation’.

Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh, a Hamas leader, condemned the arrest and said government and people would remain undaunted.

“Israel’s aims to undermine the Palestinian political system and to put obstacles before the government and the people ... This is blackmail but we are determined to continue our march,” Mr Haniyeh said.

Huda al-Shaer, the official’s wife, said he was picked up at their home in the West Bank town of Ramallah.

She said that ‘several jeeps circled the house before dawn’, then troops came to the door.

An official told her after checking their identity documents, “‘sorry madame, but your husband has to come with us’. He let him first say goodbye to our four children,” Huda al-Shaer said.

Two lawmakers from Hamas, a militant group that seeks Israel’s destruction and swept to power in the Palestinian Authority in March elections, also confirmed Al-Shaer had been seized by Israeli forces.

Saeb Erekat, the top Palestinian negotiator, condemned the arrest and said ‘this complicates’ a recent bid by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to forge a Palestinian unity government, to ease a western aid embargo against the Hamas government.—Reuters