Hamas threatens reprisals against PA due to arrests
A Hamas official threatened retaliatory action against the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank after the arrest of one hundred members of the Islamist movement, further sheding light onto the open crisis between the two political rivals.
Hamas and the Palestinian Authority reconciled a year ago. The unity government based in Ramallah can not visit Gaza, and Fatah members in Gaza say they live in "fear", while Hamas members are arrested frequently in the West Bank.
In a statement a Hamas official named Ismail al-Ashqar said, "fear that the security forces (Palestinian Authority) do not become a target for the resistance ( Hamas) if they continue their raids in the West Bank" .
"Hamas can not go against a band of traitors and mercenaries, and urges the enlightened minds within Fatah and all patriots to stop this series of arrests," it said. "We condemn the political arrests in the West Bank and we bear full responsibility for their dangerous consequences to President Mahmoud Abbas and Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah," he adds.
