RAMALLAH, (AFP) — Israeli security forces on Saturday arrested senior Hamas MP Mahmud al-Ramahi at a military roadblock in the West Bank, an army spokeswoman told AFP.

“He was arrested on suspicion of illegal activity,” at Hawara checkpoint, south of Nablus, and taken for questioning, she said.

Palestinians in his hone town of Ramallah said he was detained and his car impounded as he attempted to drive through the checkpoint.

Ramahi, formerly secretary general of the Palestinian Legislative Council, the Palestinian parliament, has been repeatedly held by Israel. In November 2010 he was arrested for what the army described as “being involved in recent Hamas activities.”

In 2006 he was arrested in a roundup of dozens of Hamas lawmakers, ministers and other officials after Gaza militants seized Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, and was held for seven months.