JERUSALEM, April 22 (Xinhua) -- Israeli forces arrested 15 Hamas operatives in the Israeli-occupied West Bank early on Sunday morning, the military said.

According to a statement released by the military, the men are among 19 Palestinians arrested in the Ramallah area and the southern West Bank overnight between Saturday and Sunday.

They were arrested after being in touch with Khaled al-Din Hamed, a Hamas operative from the Gaza Strip, and other seniors in the Islamist organization, the statement said.

The suspects "were instructed to carry out different missions on behalf of the Hamas terror organization. In addition, the terror operatives received funds in order to promote Hamas actions in the area of their residencies," it added.

As part of the operation, the forces closed a printing house where Hamas "inciting materials" were printed.

The exposure of these ties showed the "incessant attempts" made by the Gaza-based group to initiate "terror activity" in the West Bank, the statement said without further elaboration.

"By transferring funds, providing missions and incitement, Hamas jeopardizes the wellbeing of Palestinian residents," it said.

The raid came amidst a six-week protest in Gaza, known as the "Great March of Return" starting on March 30, and expected to peak on May 15, the day after the 70th anniversary of Israel's declaration of independence but marked by the Palestinians as the Nakba Day, or "Day of the Catastrophe."

Israel has reacted to the rallies with live fire, killing dozens of Palestinians and injuring thousands more over the past weeks.