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Israel arrests dozens of Hamas operatives who were expanding militant group in West Bank

Associated Press
Published | Updated

Israelis hold signs and wave flags during a demonstration outside the prime minister's residence in Jerusalem on Wednesday, July 1, 2015. Several hundred Israelis demonstrated in Jerusalem on Wednesday calling on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to act against recent Palestinian attacks against Israelis, of which a shooting attack at a West Bank settlement killed an Israeli man last week. (AP Photo/Dan Balilty) (The Associated Press)

Israelis hold signs and wave flags during a demonstration outside the prime minister's residence in Jerusalem on Wednesday, July 1, 2015. Several hundred Israelis demonstrated in Jerusalem on Wednesday calling on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to act against recent Palestinian attacks against Israelis, of which a shooting attack at a West Bank settlement killed an Israeli man last week. (AP Photo/Dan Balilty) (The Associated Press)

Israelis hold flags during a demonstration outside the prime minister's residence in Jerusalem on Wednesday, July 1, 2015. Several hundred Israelis demonstrated in Jerusalem on Wednesday calling on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to act against recent Palestinian attacks against Israelis, of which a shooting attack at a West Bank settlement killed an Israeli man last week. (AP Photo/Dan Balilty) (The Associated Press)

Israel's internal security service says it arrested 40 Hamas operatives working to expand the militant Islamic group's reach in the West Bank.

The Shin Bet said the operatives were working to enlarge Hamas' infrastructure in the territory and establish areas where they could yield influence, such as charity work and education.

The agency said the Hamas operation was partly financed by gold smuggled into the West Bank from neighboring Jordan.

Hamas has ruled the Gaza Strip with an iron fist since ousting forces loyal to the rival Palestinian Fatah party led by President Mahmoud Abbas in 2007, leaving him governing parts of the West Bank.

There has been a spate of Palestinian shooting and stabbing attacks against Israelis in the West Bank recently.