Hamas and the Palestinian Authority are renewing a wave of mutual arrests following the deadlock reached in talks meant to bring the Fatah and Hamas delegations together in Cairo.
Fatah and PA sources said Hamas security forces arrested three Fatah operatives in the Gaza Strip, and that PA security forces have arrested 12 Hamas men in Hebron.
The current round of arrests indicates the many difficulties faced by the Egyptians in their attempt to get the rival Palestinian factions to convene around the negotiations table.
Fatah has said that the Palestinian Authority is willing to give up on nearly all its demands, except for the demand that Hamas agrees to hold elections next January.
Hamas for its part has said that the PA continues to refuse to release some 1,000 political prisoners it is holding in the West Bank, thus harming chances for successful dialogue.
On Monday, Hussam Khader, a Fatah official in the West Bank, proposed a three-month truce between the parties.
Khader called for both sides to end their political arrests and expressed hope that news of the PA's plans to release some 200 Hamas prisoners and Hamas' announcement that it would free dozens of Fatah prisoners were positive steps.
Khader also proposed both parties declare a three-month truce in which they completely freeze arrests, work to have political prisoners in custody released, and take a number of trust-building steps.
As a goodwill gesture for the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, Hamas has released some 50 Fatah prisoners.
Fatah claims that some 300 of its men are being held in Hamas prisons in Gaza.
Hamas claims that Fatah is holding 900 prisoners in the West Bank.
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