Hamas: PA's security forces arrest eight Hamas members in Jenin

Sunday December 02, 2007 13:10 by Rami Almeghari - IMEMC Execlusive

Sources at Hamas movement in the West Bank reported that the Palestinian Authority's security forces arrested yesterday night eight Hamas members in Jenin city.

a PA security officer / archive photo

In a statement, faxed to press, Hamas confirmed that the PA's security forces of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, detained a number of Palestinians including two brothers of Hamas's armed wing leader Nedal Abuelheja as well as another leader of the Islamic Jihad group.

The statement read that the security forces broke into and vandalized the detainees' houses, in addition to searching thoroughly the local mosque of aL-Rawda.

In the West Bank city of Hebron, the statement reveled, that the security services arrested the released Palestinian prisoner Hamed Shalhab after having been summoned for interrogation.

Shalhab's arrest came after few hours of his release from an Israeli prison, where he spent a 10-year-long imprisonment, the statement pointed out.

Also in Hebron city, to the south of West Bank, the PA's security services took prisoner Mohammad Al-Heroub, after having broken into his house and stroming the local mosque of aL-Omary, according to the statement.

The statement recorded one more arrest in the Salfiet city, to the north of the West Bank, as well.

In recent weeks, Hamas has been accusing the PA's security services of cracking down on its members, branding such a crackdown 'a part of a U.S-backed security plan', aimed at undermining the Islamist group, which dose not recognize Israel.

PA's President, Mahmoud Abbas, outlawed Hamas in June, after the latter took over Gaza, amidst fierce gun battles with PA's Fatah-loyal security forces.

west bank | internal unrest | news report rami at imemc dot org