Hamas acknowledges recent killing of Jerusalem businessman

Hamas militants claimed responsibility Tuesday for the kidnapping and killing of Sasson Nuriel, a 51-year-old Jerusalem businessman who was found dead Monday.

The militants said in a statement that they had kidnapped Nuriel on Wednesday with the intention of trading him for Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails. However, after Israel began a series of arrest raids against West Bank militants, they decided to kill him, the statement said.

Nuriel was found dead Monday near the West Bank town of Ramallahand police said the attack appeared to be a terror attack, informs the AP.