Islamic Jihad demands Hamas to halt all political arrests

Saturday November 24, 2007 02:33 by Najeeb Farraj – IMEMC

Islamic Jihad Movement in Palestine slammed the dissolved Hamas government in the Gaza Strip for arresting the representative of the leftist Palestinian People Party, and the representative of the National Struggle Front.

Islamic Jihad - Logo

The movement stated that its representatives submitted a document to the Ministry of Interior in Rafah to provide explanations for arresting Mahmoud Hijazi, representative of the National Struggle Front, and Mohammad Al Zamily, representative of the Palestinian People Party.

The two were arrested eight days ago, and Hamas did not comment on the incident and did not provide any details or reasons explaining the arrests.

The Islamic Jihad also stated that political arrests are rejected and that representatives of different factions should not be subjected to such arrests.

Several other groups in Gaza slammed the arrests and demanded Hamas to release all political detainees.

The National Action Committee in Rafah, in the southern part of the Gaza Strip, stated that Al Zamily and Hijazi were tortured and that their health conditions have deteriorated.

The Committee added that Hijazi lost consciousness several times during torture.

Also, Fateh movement stated on Friday that Hamas police in the Gaza Strip arrested four members of the movement in Beit Lahia and Beit Hanoun, in the northern part of the Gaza Strip.

Fateh added that dozens of its members and supporters were arrested by Hamas and were severely tortured.

Translated by Saed Bannoura - IMEMC 

gaza strip | internal unrest | news report saed at imemc dot org