RAMALLAH, West Bank (AP) – Israeli troops on Saturday arrested a senior Hamas activist in the West Bank, the Islamic militant group said.

The detainee, Saleh Aruri, was described on a Hamas Web site as the founder of the Hamas military wing, Izzedine al-Qassam, in the West Bank. Aruri had served 15 years in an Israeli prison and was released in March, the Web site said.

The Israeli military confirmed an arrest was made in the village of Arura, north of Ramallah, but provided no details.