Tensions, arrests between Palestinian Authority and Hamas

The arrests campaign comes at a time when representatives of several Palestinian factions, including Fatah and Hamas, are expected to meet in the Egyptian capital Cairo soon to discuss ways to ensure the success of the elections.

The Jerusalem Post reported that despite talk of holding new general elections in Palestine, the Palestinian Authority and Hamas continue to tighten the screws on each other's supporters in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

The newspaper quoted Palestinian sources as saying, "the security forces of the Palestinian Authority have arrested five men in the West Bank on suspicion of belonging to Hamas, and one of the detainees is Amid Shehadeh, a journalist from Nablus."

She added that in Nablus, the Palestinian Authority security forces also arrested Qassam Sabah, who was recently released from an Israeli prison, and the student at Al-Najah University Hussam Ashtia, and in Hebron, Mohab Al-Junaidi was arrested a week after his marriage, and in Salfit, Abdullah Abdel Fattah was arrested.

A Palestinian human rights activist said, "The actions of the Palestinian Authority show that it is not serious about holding free elections, and if people are arrested for supporting Hamas or criticizing President Abbas, then how do we talk about free elections?"

Last week, Palestinian officials in Ramallah accused Hamas of continuing its campaign against Fatah members in the Gaza Strip, despite Abbas's call for general elections.

The officials stated that three senior Fatah operatives, Ahmad Naji, Mustafa al-Shanat, and Shukri Abu al-Hussein, had been summoned for investigation by Hamas security forces.

A Palestinian official in Ramallah said, "Hamas continues to harass and intimidate Fatah members in the Gaza Strip, and Hamas’s actions aim to intimidate Fatah and thwart the upcoming elections."

The President of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas, announced on January 15 that the parliamentary elections would be held on May 22, and said in a presidential decree that “the presidential elections will be held on July 31,” and in late August the Palestinians will vote to elect members of the Palestinian National Council.

J.O