Israeli authorities have arrested eight suspects in connection with the Mercaz Harav yeshiva massacre. Police said on Sunday that the suspects were in custody on suspicion that they abetted the shooting spree by a Palestinian gunman from east Jerusalem. The terrorist killed eight seminary students in the attack last week before being shot dead himself. Given the speculation that the gunman operated on behalf of Hamas or Hezbollah, the Israeli security service has issued a gag order on the investigation. According to media reports, the detainees are fellow Arabs from east Jerusalem and may include members of the terrorist's family, which is said to support Hamas. Though the gunman may have acted alone, it is possible that some of his friends or relatives knew of his intentions and failed to tell authorities.
Prime minister Ehud Olmert instructed the National Insurance Institute not to transfer any burial fees to the family of the gunman. On Sunday morning, following police orders, the man's family also removed Hamas and Hezbollah flags they had hung on his mourning tent.
