Tuesday, 23 December 2008Tulkarem – Ma’an – Fatah-allied Palestinian Authority (PA) security forces released a Hamas leader in the West Bank city of Tulkarem on Monday evening after detaining him the previous day.
Hamas says the PA also arrested 29 other Hamas members during raids on Monday.
Ra’fat Nasif, a member of Hamas’ political bureau, told Ma’an in a phone interview, “I wasn’t questioned and I wasn’t charged with anything. My detention was for political reasons.”
The Palestinian Intelligence Service arrested Nasif at his home on Sunday evening.
Nasif called for the release of all Hamas members from PA prisons in the West Bank.
Hamas has accused the PA of carrying out a campaign of arrests against party leaders and activists in the West Bank. The Islamic movement boycotted an Egyptian-sponsored conference aimed at reconciling the Palestinian rivals in November, citing these arrests.
In the city of Qalqilia, Hamas said the PA arrested Mahmoud Nofal, Mu’tasem Al-Baz, Bassam Yassin, Bashir Nawfal, Abdel-Halim Al-Basha, Mu’men, Arif Ahmed, Yasser Sharif, Amir, Saleh Nofal, Muhammad Al-Baz, Mohammad Al-Quni, and Mahmoud Jaber.
In Salfit, Hamas said the PA arrested 14 year-old Mo’men Mohammad Mer’y from the Bani Hassan village, Jebril Rayan from the same village Asid Mohammad Mer’y, a 16-year-old student.
In Tulkarem, Hamas said PA forces arrested Ahmed Al-Qattawi, Ahmed Abu Salah, Izz Ad-Din Abu Dayyeh, Abdel-Rahman Rasras, Ehab Abu Lifeh, Hassan Al-Jarad and Hussam Muhammad and Samer Ghanem and Ahmad Abu Asem.
In the Ramallah area, Hamas said PA forces arrested Shukri Al-Khawaja, from the village of Ni’lin. In a statement Hamas said Al-Khawaja had been released by the PA last week after five years in detention.
In Hebron PA forces arrested Mahmoud Jmedat after storming the village of Surif, Hamas said.
Ma'an News |
Tuesday, 23 December 2008
Israel
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