In addition to serving as Ismail Haniyeh's deputy, Saleh al-Aruri is also credited with founding Hamas' military wing
After the October 7 attacks, when Hamas militants from Gaza broke into southern Israel and killed at least 1,400 people, largely civilians, and kidnapped more than 200 captives, according to Israeli officials, he is a major target for Israel. He is based in Lebanon.
According to Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry, over 4,300 Palestinians, mostly civilians, have died as a result of Israel's unremitting bombing since that time.
One of Aruri's brothers and nine of his nephews were among the more than 20 people who were taken into custody after troops invaded Aruri's home in Arura village, some 20 kilometers (12 miles) north of Ramallah, around daybreak on Saturday, according to the mayor Ali al-Khasib and witnesses.
Dutznde more were rounded up for interrogation.
According to witnesses and pictures that were widely circulated online, forces displayed a banner outside the home that featured the Hamas lawmaker against an Israeli flag and read: "This was the house of Saleh Aruri and has become the headquarters of Abu al-Nimer — Israeli intelligence."
Residents of the village claimed that Abu al-Nimer was the cover name of the Israeli intelligence official in charge of the region.
The army said in a statement that the raid was carried out in conjunction with the Shin Beth internal security service and that "dozens of Hamas members," including relatives of Aruri, were detained. It acknowledged used the residence "for the detention and interrogation of activists."
Aruri, who was appointed Haniyeh's deputy in 2017, has been charged by Israel with planning numerous assaults.
He was released in 2010 after nearly 20 years in Israeli prisons on the condition that he go into exile.
Numerous civilians have died in clashes with Israeli forces in the occupied West Bank since the Gaza crisis began.