TEL AVIV - The sister of Hamas political leader, Ismail Haniyeh, was arrested in southern Israel on suspicion of "contacts with operatives of the Islamic faction and support for acts of terrorism". According to the police - quoted by the media - the 57-year-old woman was arrested in a joint operation with the Shin Bet, the internal security service. According to the same source, documents, telephones and other evidence were found in her home linking her "to serious security breaches".
Police have not released the name of Haniyeh's sister who was arrested. The leader of the Hamas political bureau - according to media - has two brothers and eight sisters. Three of these are married to Israeli Bedouins, therefore have Israeli citizenship and live in Tel Sheva, in the Negev. Last February - it was recalled - one of them gave birth to a premature baby and received life-saving treatment from doctors. Ismail Haniyeh, 62, is married with 13 children and normally lives in Qatar.
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