Hamas: PA's arrest of our members serves the occupation

Hamas condemned the large-scale arrest campaign launched by the PA security services in Ramallah against Hamas activists and supporters in the West Bank last night during which dozens were arrested.

In a written press statement, member of the Hamas Political Bureau, Izzat Al-Reshq said: “We in Hamas condemn the campaign of arrests launched by the security services in the West Bank.” He considered the campaign to be “a stab in the backs of our people during this holy month and a service to the occupation.”

Husam Badran, a Hamas spokesman, also denounced the campaign saying: “This rabid security campaign is an attempt to stop resistance against the occupation, especially after the acts of resistance have escalated in the past few days and the occupation’s announcement that Hamas was behind most of these acts.”

He also stressed that this campaign “reveals the PA’s security services’ subordination to the occupation. The matter has gone beyond security coordination, which is rejected by all Palestinian people.”

Badran held President Mahmoud Abbas personally responsible for “the acts of oppression and terrorism carried out by his security agencies against the Palestinian people in the occupied West Bank.” He called on all the Palestinian factions and forces to take bold and clear positions against such actions which tear apart the national Palestinian fabric.

In a press release issued today, Hamas said: “The campaign impacted about 108 Hamas supporters across the West Bank. The arrests occurred after their homes were raided late last night and early this morning.”