Jerusalem – Israel Closes East Jerusalem Offices Used By Hamas

Jerusalem – Israeli police say they have raided and shut down a pair of offices in east Jerusalem that were allegedly used by the militant Palestinian group Hamas.

Spokesman Micky Rosenfeld says no arrests were made in Tuesday’s raid. He wouldn’t say what the offices were used for. The premises were ordered closed for a month.

Israel, the U.S. and the EU consider Hamas a terrorist group because of its suicide bombings and other attacks aimed at Israeli civilians.

Israel has banned the group from operating in areas under its control, including east Jerusalem, the section of the holy city claimed by the Palestinians.

Hamas has ruled the Gaza Strip since 2007, when it ousted rivals from the secular Fatah party. The Fatah-led Palestinian Authority governs in the West Bank.