The IDF made sweeping arrests of Hamas members in the West Bank this week in the largest such crackdown this year.

The operation, which took place in the early hours of Wednesday morning, was aimed at hampering the Islamist movement's attempts to re-establish its military networks in the area.

The Shin Bet security service has detected increased activity among Hamas cells in the West Bank over the past few months, directed by the Hamas leadership in Gaza and in Turkey.

The arrests took place the day after the Shin Bet announced it had recently arrested another Hamas cell that had allegedly been planning to carry out a drive-by shooting at an Israeli road block in East Jerusalem.

According to the Shin Bet, the attack was due to take place on Purim last month, and the cell members, all residents of East Jerusalem, had carried out surveillance of the chosen target and undergone firearms training.

Hamas's continuing attempts to rebuild its West Bank networks – destroyed by the IDF and Shin Bet ten years ago – is one of the main reasons for the ongoing security coordination between Israel and the PA, despite the diplomatic impasse.