Hamas calls on the Palestinian Authority to release all activists detained by the PA's security services, and warns of "the consequences of the continuation of the detention policy against released prisoners, students and activists throughout the West Bank." In a strong condemnation, Hamas attacked the PA, accusing it of "throwing dozens of residents into prison under unacceptable pretexts."
The condemnation followed videos documenting the arrests carried out by members of the Palestinian Authority security forces in the early morning hours in several locations in Judea and Samaria. The arrests targeted opponents of the PA, including opposition figures opposed to the PA, as well as activists affiliated with Hamas.
For example, in one of the raids, Palestinian security forces entered the village of Ni'lin, west of Ramallah, and arrested several released prisoners, including Khalil Amira and several members of the Srour family. Green Hamas flags were also confiscated. In another raid in the village of Asira Shamalia, north of Nablus, the forces arrested four Palestinians. According to some reports, they are also released prisoners, and that one of them is a student at Anjah University in the city.
Documentation of arrests carried out by Palestinian Authority apparatuses | Arab networks
In the elections held for the university's student union a few weeks ago, the Hamas student cell won and defeated Fatah's list. Additional arrests were made in the Bethlehem area.
The father of the detainee, Arkam Srour, claimed that his son's arrest came against the backdrop of a procession held in the village during a reception for a prisoner released from an Israeli prison. "We were surprised to see that those who come to raid our home are the Palestinian security forces. All this is only because of a reception for the prisoner who was released, and in which all the factions in the village participated," he said.
The arrests drew public criticism not only from Hamas. Palestinian activists spoke out against the Ramallah leadership, claiming it was collaborating with Israel. "The arrests serve Israeli interests and harm the Palestinian struggle," they said.
The social networks also attacked the Palestinian Authority. "Has the Palestinian people in Judea and Samaria become under two occupations? The Israeli occupation and the occupation of the PA?" it said mockingly. Others accused some of the arrests of being "political."
Israeli occupation and occupation of the PA? Mahmoud Abbas, photo: Reuters
Sharp criticism also arose over the arrests carried out by the Palestinian Authority apparatuses against two senior Palestinian officials who worked with AMAN, an organization that brings together a network of entities working for transparency and whistleblowing. The two, Aman's advisor to the board of directors, Azmi Shuaibi, and executive director Essam Hussein, were arrested after the organization published a report allegedly exposing an act of corruption allegedly involving Palestinian Authority officials.
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